Takapuna apartments part of HNZ plan

Roger Twose.

Public-private partnership near Lake Pupuke will see mix of owners and renters in $50 million development.

An older-style Housing New Zealand enclave at Takapuna, where 11 mostly separate stand-alone residences are set in big gardens, is about to be demolished to make way for a $50 million 70-apartment scheme, selling from $700,000 per unit.

Multi-level blocks will be built, with 54 units to be sold to private owners and 16 rented to state tenants.

The large state-owned site spans the intersection of Lake Pupuke Drive and Killarney St, two blocks off main thoroughfare Anzac Ave near Lake Pupuke. Its existing low-density houses are on traditionally large sites, like much of the neighbourhood, and many date back to around the middle of last century.

Housing NZ has a rapid redevelopment programme under way for the many hectares of valuable Auckland land it owns, intensifying its sites. It is partly funding that rebuilding scheme by selling plots to private developers, who will build some state and some privately-owned dwellings, all within the same scheme.

The Takapuna project follows this formula, with private developer Willis Bond & Co striking a deal with Housing NZ. The same developer is also starting multi-million dollar apartments near the waterfront at the Wynyard Quarter.

Roger Twose of Willis Bond & Co announced that a 16-unit, four-level apartment building would be built on Killarney St for Housing NZ. Willis Bond will also build two apartment blocks on neighbouring sites around 8 Lake Pupuke Drive, Twose said. Units in those two blocks would be sold to private buyers.

Construction will start in the first half of next year, he said.

"There will be 54 private apartments within two four-storey buildings at 8 Lake Pupuke Drive. The apartments will be contemporary and architecturally designed with good natural light and carefully designed layouts," a statement from Twose said.

The Housing NZ land was declared a Special Housing Area in 2013, allowing for fast-track development and limited notification so start times are not delayed and costs are kept low.

Housing NZ says the mixed development of state and privately owned housing would provide improved housing choice within Takapuna, because the units would be one- and two-bedroom apartments, with options for some three-bedroom dwellings.

"Within Takapuna, the location is well connected, accessible and has a very high level of amenity. The site is within an easy walk of the Takapuna centre and is well supported by public transport," Housing NZ was quoted as saying on Auckland Council's special housing area website.

"This is one example of a number of projects where Housing New Zealand is planning to work with others to deliver state housing alongside other types of in-demand housing."

Meanwhile, across town, Housing NZ has told Mt Albert residents of its plans for 1-9 and 8 Jennings St, as well as 18-20 Jersey Ave. Eight old two-bedroom homes will be replaced with 18 "warm, dry modern homes", said letters from stakeholder manager Gez Johns and regional manager Dianne Te Nana.