The future is looking much brighter for Wainuiomata.

It's been an area in decline for decades with a dwindling population and decaying mall, but the housing shortage may provide a silver lining for Wainuiomata and its undeveloped land. Nicholas Boyack reports.

After years in the doldrums, the future is looking much brighter for Wainuiomata.

News that work is about to begin on a $50 million retirement village is just the latest in a string of positives for the Lower Hutt suburb.

MAARTEN HOLL/STUFF It was only 2016 when residents feared the quick succession of tenants leaving the Wainuiomata Mall could spell disaster for suburb. (File photo)

Its long-dwindling population is set to boom over the next five years as hundreds of new houses are built.

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* Wainuiomata residents fear mall's struggles could spell disaster

* Wainuiomata Mall loses another tenant, with Warehouse closing

* Wainuiomata to get much needed resthome

​* Work starts on $11.1m cycle path in Wainuiomata

* Dog park for Wainuiomata

There are also plans for an $11.1m cycle and pathway linking Wainuiomata to the rest of Lower Hutt, as well as a fenced dog park.

MAARTEN HOLL/STUFF The largely-abandoned Wainuiomata Mall was bought by Progressive Enterprises in 2017, which has locals feeling a lot more positive about its future. (File photo)

Last year, Progressive Enterprises purchased the largely-deserted Wainuiomata Mall after a rough period in which it lost a number of tenants, including The Warehouse.

Although it is not clear what Progressive plans to do, locals have regained confidence about the future of the site.

Wainuiomata was once known as "Nappy Valley". With a population of more than 20,000 it boomed on the back of a strong industrial base and young families.

SUPPLIED The one major commodity Wainuiomata has over the rest of Lower Hutt is undeveloped flat land - something that has played into its favour during the housing shortage. Hutt City Council expects 600 new houses to be built there over the next five years.

In the 1980s, the industries started to close, and as the population fell the rot set in.

In the early 2000s things were so bad that then-Minister of Education Trevor Mallard had to close his old school. The loss of Wainuiomata College, an intermediate and a number of primary schools hit hard.

The price of houses stagnated, and by 2009 the population had fallen to 17,130. Four years later it had dropped to a mere 16,786.

SUPPLIED An artist's impression of a $50 million retirement village to be built in Wainuiomata. The local community has lobbied for a facility for 25 years.

Those who remained in Wainuiomata saw their police station opening hours cut back, their post office closed and their sports codes concede they may need to share facilities to survive.

But over the next few years the population is expected to rise significantly because Wainuiomata has one commodity the rest of Lower Hutt does not – undeveloped flat land.

There are a number of major sub-divisions already underway with prices for a new build going as high as $650,000. The Hutt City Council expects 600 new houses will be built in Wainuiomata over the next five years.

NICHOLAS BOYACK/STUFF Hutt South MP Chris Bishop, Lower Hutt Deputy Mayor David Bassett, Hutt city councillors Campbell Barry and Johs Briggs, along with Speaker of the House Trevor Mallard help turn the first sod on Wainuiomata's new cycle path in November. (File photo)

One person who is pleased to see an upturn in Wainuiomata's fortunes is Clive Cannons. Known locally as "the happy chemist", he has been a stalwart of local retail for 31 years.

Cannons said new housing is a big positive as the suburb desperately needs more people.

"It has to be good to have more people. Kindergartens, schools, businesses and sport clubs – everyone will benefit. A town is only a town if people live in it."

NICHOLAS BOYACK/STUFF Clive Cannons believes Wainuiomata finally has the prescription right and is about to boom.

Down the road from Cannons' pharmacy, Ian Barnett has been running a business repairing lawnmowers for 22 years.

The falling population and stagnant economy has made business tough, but the prospect of new housing and the retirement complex has him feeling much more confident about the future.

'"Our businesses will grow, absolutely they will. All these things are a positive for Wainuiomata. I am expecting much better times."

NICHOLAS BOYACK/STUFF Alan and Lynn Dowman love Wainuiomata and the new home they moved in to before Christmas.

At Wainuiomata's Parkway Rise, where 150 new homes are to be built, Lynn and Alan Dowman are settling into their new home.

Although they downsized from a property in nearby Moores Valley, they said a lot of their neighbours are new to the area.

Lynn said they paid "well over $500,000" for their home, a figure unimaginable for a Wainuiomata property only a few years ago.

She was confident it would increase in value as more and more people discover the delights of the area.

"Wainuiomata is a wonderful place to live."

Hutt city councillor Campbell Barry predicts the new homes and improved access from the shared pathway over the Wainuiomata hill will change the face of Wainuiomata.

"Over the last few years there is no question that we have been getting some momentum going and Wainuiomata is becoming a much more attractive place to live."

Long-time resident and real estate agent Wayne Barton said there are currently about 250 new homes being built. It is still possible to get a new build for under $600,000 and he had sold a lot of houses to Wellingtonians.

"Loads have come from Wellington, heaps and heaps, because you get a much better bang for your buck than in Wellington."

Mayor Ray Wallace said he is proud to call Wainuiomata home, and it is good to see it doing well.

"The feeling that Wainuiomata is an up-and-coming suburb has been building locally for quite some time and we're now seeing this being reflected with some real life examples," he said.

"Numerous residential developments, a new retirement village and the great work that local groups are doing to promote Wainuiomata – it's all adding up."