Home builder partners sought for
government owned Northcote land
Home builder partners keen to be involved in major government housing projects in Auckland are being sought for five
superlots of land totalling 1.58 hectares in Northcote on the North Shore.
Stage 1 of the government’s Northcote Development project, which commenced in September 2016, has focused on the
construction of new state houses for Housing New Zealand. A total of 298 current ageing dwellings are being replaced
with around 400 new homes.
In stage 2 of the project, HLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Housing New Zealand Corporation, has appointed Bayleys Real
Estate to release the five superlots which range in size from 2572 sq m to 3665 sq m. Registrations of interest in
purchasing and building on one or more of the lots are being sought, closing on February 16, 2018.
HLC chief executive Chris Aiken says a short list of potential home builder partners will be identified by March 2018
with the final selection made in April.
“Via the registration of interest process for these superlots, we are seeking interest from the market, not only in
Northcote, but in HLC’s larger housing delivery programme, with the increased business volumes and scale available under
the wider programme translating into more cost effective and affordable house prices.”
Mr Aiken says there is a requirement for 55 per cent of homes across the five superlots at Northcote to be “affordable”,
defined as a maximum price of $600,000 for a terraced home and a maximum of $500,000 for apartments.
“We’re seeking home building partners committed to innovating in the delivery of affordable homes at scale and pace
within the second stage of the masterplan for the government’s Northcote Development. Upon completion the project will
provide around 1200 new homes close to the Northcote town centre over a six-year period.”
Gerald Rundle, Bayleys’ manager of corporate projects, says the Northcote Development masterplan provides the
opportunity for over 165 homes to be built across the five superlots that the agency is marketing.
“Most of the land for sale has a Terrace Housing and Apartment Buildings zoning under the Auckland Unitary Plan, which
allows for the greatest density, height and scale of development of all the plan’s residential zones.
“It will mean buildings of five to six storeys can be developed on parts of the land for sale. This will be a
significant change from the suburban development that has characterised Northcote but will enable more dwellings to be
constructed in an area that is well suited to urban regeneration and residential intensification.”
As well as much needed new, warm, dry, healthy homes, Mr Aiken says the Northcote Development project which HLC is
managing will provide improved infrastructure, new and rejuvenated public spaces and better and more frequent public
transport links.
Auckland Council’s urban regeneration agency Panuku Development Auckland is co-ordinating renewal work in the Northcote
town centre which will link with a new greenway following the Awataha stream. It will provide residents with a
pedestrian and cycle-friendly path through their neighbourhood with a number of improved and new parks and open spaces
connected to the greenway.
HLC was initially established in 2006 to develop the former Hobsonville Air Force base into a new township, Hobsonville
Point. The Northcote Development is the first project to come out of HLC’s expanded role of enabling and delivering more
housing across Auckland.
“This is the first of what will be a considerable pipeline of land releases to deliver new and more affordable homes to
the Auckland market. As well as affordable options, most homes will be at or below Auckland’s medium house price,” says
Mr Aiken.
“Working alongside Housing New Zealand, we are seeking to rapidly increase the scale and delivery pace of replacement
and additional state homes, affordable homes and general market supply. HLC is charged with the delivery or enablement
of builder ready land for over 20,000 homes over the next 10-15 years.
“HLC believes that there is both a great opportunity and a need for change in construction methods and is actively
seeking proposals that will disrupt the market and bring that change. The company also wants to see a step change in
housing affordability, delivered via new approaches to design and building. Proposals that include partial or full
off-site manufacture will be welcomed and keenly considered.
“HLC’s model is based on collaborative private/public sector partnerships. We will engage in more innovative ways than a
conventional development parcel/land sales approach, including funding and risk-share if the circumstances warrant and
it delivers the innovation, affordability, pace and scale that Auckland needs.”
Mr Aiken says potential models for more affordable homes include shared equity and long-term tenancy options, as well as
innovating around the types of homes and the intensity of the development.
ends