Uncertainty looms over ‘landmark’ Willis Bond commercial development in Wellington

The proposed development would include 14,000sq m of office space across seven storeys. Image / Willis Bond

• Developer Willis Bond is planning a ‘landmark’ commercial development in the old Michael Fowler Centre carpark.
• The company says the project is still active, but Wellington City Council says it’s on hold.
• Construction was supposed to start in early 2023 and be completed this year. No work has begun on the site.

A seven-storey “dramatic new commercial landmark” near Wellington’s Civic Square and waterfront is in doubt, with conflicting messages about whether plans are on ice.

The proposed development, on the site of the Michael Fowler Centre carpark, is described by developer Willis Bond as “Wellington’s next-generation office offerings“.

It would have 14,000sq m of office space, a ground-floor cafe and retail space on a prime section of Jervois Quay, linking the CBD and Civic Square to the waterfront.

It was said in November 2022 that construction was going to commence on the build, named 110 Jervois Quay, in early 2023 and be completed by late 2025.

Construction is yet to begin on the site.

Willis Bond describes the development as “Wellington’s next-generation office offerings“. Image / Willis Bond

The land most recently housed a temporary building occupied by the Royal New Zealand Ballet. It was removed from the site last year.

The Herald asked Wellington City Council for an update on the development given the lack of action on site.

A spokesman responded with: “We’re aware that Willis Bond has put the project on hold.

“You’ll have to talk to them about the specific reasons.”

Willis Bond senior development manager Rosalind Luxford​ told the Herald “110 Jervois Quay remains one of our active projects”.

“However, we are bound by confidentiality in our arrangements with Wellington City Council and all media inquiries should be directed to the council.”

Willis Bond did not respond to further requests for an interview or comment.

The site is empty after the removal of a temporary building last year. Photo / Google Maps

A market source familiar with the development told the Herald while Willis Bond was hopeful it would go ahead, it was unlikely.

They said the lack of interest in Wellington’s commercial office market meant the developer would struggle to find tenants and might have to go back to the drawing board and consider changes to the scope of the project, such as making it partially residential.

It was unknown whether any tenants had been secured for the site.

Willis Bond’s website states it’s “now leasing” for the planned building.

The consent for the development was lodged in March 2022.

Initial plans were for levels 1 and 2 of the building to be used for Victoria University of Wellington’s music school and the NZSO. That plan was called off in late 2023, with the music school’s future unclear.

Willis Bond’s website states it’s “now leasing” for the planned building. Image / Willis Bond

The development sits in an area surrounded by quake-prone buildings in limbo or facing eye-watering costs to reopen.

The Amora hotel across the road closed in 2017 after suffering damage in the Kaikōura earthquake, work to restore the Town Hall is now under way at a projected cost of $329m, and Wellington City Council has floated the idea of demolishing the quake-prone Michael Fowler Centre next door.

The 110 Jervois Quay development is proposed to be base-isolated to withstand a 1-in-1000-year seismic event, and a raised ground floor to mitigate the threat of sea level rise.

The Herald revealed last month Willis Bond managing director Mark McGuinness resigned from Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau’s business advisory group.

Ethan Manera is a multimedia journalist based in Wellington. He joined NZME in 2023 and is interested in local issues, politics and property in the capital. Ethan is always on the lookout for a story and can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.