Plans to develop Kensington as a medical precinct have been stalled with the sale of the old Countdown building for use as a medical centre falling over.
The Northland Regional Council is now pursuing investment opportunities and has called for expressions of interest from potential joint-venture partners to redevelop the former supermarket site.
Last year council chief executive officer Malcolm Nicholson said possible uses for the site included finding a new tenant, redeveloping the site or selling it.
At the time, Mr Nicholson confirmed that one proposed concept was redevelopment to extend the city's medical facilities, specifically the development of Kensington Hospital services.
Council chairman Bill Shepherd confirmed to the Advocate yesterday that the building's sale for that purpose had fallen through and other interested retailers had also failed to step up to the plate.