Huge 27ha site - top spot for industry

The site would be suitable for a number of uses. Photo / Supplied

A huge 27.12ha industrial site just off State Highway 16 in the fast-growing Kumeu-Huapai area northwest of Auckland is being offered for sale by deadline private treaty, with offers closing on April 12 unless it sells prior to that date.

Chris Upright of Colliers International, who is marketing the property at 116 Access Rd, Kumeu, Rodney, with colleagues Greg Goldfinch and Dwayne Warby, says the owner, Fletcher Building, operated a particle board factory on the site which was decommissioned after its closure in 2010.

The property has since been used as a resource recovery centre.

"The site's past use for manufacturing means it has very large buildings with a combined floor area of over 13,000sq m as well as yard areas on site that could suit a variety of future uses," Upright says.

The site comprises two titles of 19.96ha and 7.16ha, with the existing buildings situated on the larger title. The main factory and warehouse building has a 7.8m stud at the portal knee, rising to 9.5m at the apex. Adjoining workshop areas have stud heights of between 3m and 4.5m. Offices also adjoin the warehouse, with further office and meeting space in a pre-fabricated building on the site. Another pre-fab offers three-bedroom living accommodation.

There are ample hardstand yard areas of around 1ha in size providing drive-around access with loading and unloading areas.

Warby says the buildings contain functional industrial facilities, along with two bore-water supplies and sewerage systems for up to 75 people.

"This property can accommodate a large-sized industrial operation," Warby says. "Areas of land directly adjacent to the property have been earmarked by Auckland Council for future industrial uses, a business park and residential development.

"Subject to a zone change, the surrounding areas to the north, west and east of the property could be developed for commercial and/or industrial use. The area to the south has also been identified as a possible 'countryside (town) living' zone.

"The council is preparing a further plan variation for Huapai South to rezone some land currently zoned as 'future urban', to business park and countryside living zoning."

Goldfinch says the strong development focus in the Kumeu-Huapai area, driven by rapid population growth, promises a bright future for the area. "Kumeu-Huapai is located less than 10km west of the Westgate town centre and mall development, which is under construction and is earmarked as one of Auckland's future metropolitan city centres.

"As the biggest mixed use development under single ownership proposed in New Zealand, Westgate will incorporate significant new civic amenities with retail, entertainment and accommodation options within a 156ha area. In addition to the mall, the Westgate development will house a library, town square, parks and gardens, and a main street with restaurants, bars and cafes, along with a supermarket and large-format retail," he says.

"This major hub will offer thousands of new jobs, industry and opportunities for Aucklanders, with benefits extending into the Kumeu-Huapai area where residential and commercial development is expected to increase."

The property is located just off busy State Highway 16, the main road between Auckland and Helensville, which has recently been subject to an extension of the northwestern motorway. The Auckland CBD is within 25 minutes' drive of Kumeu-Huapai, Goldfinch says.

The State Highway 18 Hobsonville Deviation project also opens up the area.

"Kumeu-Huapai and nearby Westgate are now linked to the Upper Harbour Highway, making the North Shore only minutes away by car."

Upright agrees that "compelling growth trends" are positive for future commercial development in the Kumeu-Huapai.

He expects the property to appeal to land bankers, developers and investors who appreciate these trends, as well as the opportunity to purchase attractively-priced industrial property. Owner-occupiers operating in light industrial sectors could also be well-suited to the property, he says.