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Work has begun on a subdivision in Orewa West that is expected to provide around 575 residential lots as well as space for a commercial centre and a proposed Rapid Transit Network station.
The 84.5ha rural site is on the western side of the Grand Drive motorway exit. It was originally part of a 253-hectare property known as Hall Farm.
The land is being developed by Hobsonville Point developers AV Jennings and it is expected that the first lots will go on the market in 2020.
Resource consent for the development was obtained by Orewa West Investments, which then put the site up for sale. AV Jennings, which is based in Australia, got approval from the Overseas Investment Office to purchase the land in September.
The site is adjacent to the Department of Conservation’s Nukumea Scenic Reserve, a major habitat for birds, including the at-risk ground nesting fernbird. As a result, independent commissioners required that cats be excluded from the entire subdivision, following an application by Forest & Bird (HM July 5, 2017).
The developer is also required to provide a comprehensive and detailed plan to show how it will compensate for works that will affect natural waterways on the site.
Independent commissioners approved the resource consent for the majority of the subdivision last year but they declined consent for the proposed commercial/neighbourhood centre. This was on the grounds of the proposed centre’s relationship to its surroundings as well as vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist access issues. The developer will have to apply for separate resource consent for this centre in due course.
Around 68 percent of the site will be developed. The original plans show section sizes that vary from around 300-400sqm to 600-1500sqm, expected to be a mix of standalone and terraced housing.
The smaller, highest density lots are expected to be at the centre of the site adjacent to amenities such as commercial areas and public transport with larger lots and bush and “rural character” areas at the edges of the site.
Earthworks are already underway, however AV Jennings New Zealand manger, Adriaan Vlok, told the paper that it is too early to release details of what is planned, which the company expects to do next month.
