The Block gears up for Auckland inner-city sites

People's choice winners Pete and Andy Walker.

Four character villas — all with two storeys — will feature in the next season of The Block NZ. The new Fans versus Faves series will see newbie renovators pitted against past contestants and is due to start filming in the coming months.

The pre-World War I homes will soon be moved to adjacent sites on the corner of Renfrew and Haig Aves in city fringe suburb Sandringham.

The two sites will be developed into four freehold sites of 313-456sqm. An existing 1930s bungalow at 35 Renfrew and a 1950s house at 38Haig will be removed.

It's not yet known who will make up the two "Faves" teams for the fourth series of the show, but farming brothers Pete and Andy Walker, who won the people's choice award in 2013 are hotly tipped for a return.

The same prize was won by Jo and Damo Neal last year, and they are also favourites for a comeback.

Plans approved by Auckland Council this week show production company Eyeworks has spared no expense with the fourth season of the popular TV3 home renovation show.

Property records show the company paid more than $1.7 million for the Haig Ave site but purchase details for the Renfrew Ave property were not available.

Expensive additions that include a master bedroom, an ensuite and a walk-in-wardrobe, as well as spa pools, a swimming pool, modernised open-plan living areas and landscaping will transform the villas into spacious three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes.

The additions are said to be sympathetic to the villa design and plans show care has been taken to add traditional picket fences and minimise the impact of driveways and concrete areas with landscaping.

Each dwelling has space for two cars but no garage.

In the proposal to Auckland Council, Eyeworks states it will minimise the impact of the production by limiting film crew on the site, deliveries and group activities.

A drone will fly over the site every two weeks to record progress.

Last year's series in Pt Chevalier saw more than 100 complaints to council. Action was taken in five of the 64 that breached resource consents: three fines — two of $300 and one of $750 — as well as one abatement notice and one formal warning for activity outside of agreed hours.