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Almost 100 houses could be built in a small seaside settlement on the Otago Peninsula if plans come to fruition.
A 72-lot development is planned in Portobello Rd, Broad Bay, near Dunedin.
Just down the road at Camp St, earthworks are taking place at a 23-lot subdivision, and sections there will soon be on the market.
"It’s a big number of houses, absolutely," Otago Peninsula Community Board chairman Paul Pope said.
"It will make a difference to that community in a range of different ways."
Broad Bay and Portobello had 489 occupied dwellings and a combined population of 1155 when the 2018 census was taken.
Mr Pope said if all the development went ahead, he hoped it would result in more families coming to the area and more children attending local schools.
He described Broad Bay as largely a commuter community and he expected development would result in more traffic, but it might also lead to more people volunteering for hall committees or conservation activities.
A mix of high-end and more affordable housing is envisaged for the 72-lot project in Portobello Rd and Francis St, for which subdivision and land use consents have been granted by the Dunedin City Council.
Developer Steve Clearwater, who lives on the peninsula, said he needed an investor to come on board, or suitable finance to be arranged, to take the project to the next stage.
He bought the 6.5ha site in February last year.
An attractive walkway through the subdivision could be a feature of the area, Mr Clearwater said.
He was optimistic the development would come together.
"The whole area needs it," he said.
Matthew Keown, of Wanaka, is behind the Camp St project.
The area had been overlooked for residential development for a long time, but boasted all-day sun and outstanding peninsula views, he said.
Development could give the area a more neighbourly feel, Mr Keown said.
The first stage of his project could go to market within two weeks, he said.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said Mr Clearwater’s proposed development was large by Dunedin standards.
A stormwater management plan would be required before any construction started.
The proposal was acceptable to the council’s three waters and seepage control unit, subject to some conditions, such as installing water-saving devices.
A one-way road would be created off Portobello Rd to service the development.