Big Tauranga block set up as ideal hub for healthcare community

A Cameron Rd site has been adapted for healthcare purposes and sits opposite Tauranga Hospital. Photo / Supplied

Opposite Tauranga Hospital and with consents in place for a large medical centre, a large block of Tauranga land close to the city centre has been put up for sale.

The 6483sq m site, bounded by Cameron Rd and 18th and 19th Aves, was acquired over the best part of a decade by Avenue Property Developments, associated with the interests of Bay of Plenty investor Neil Hamilton.

Brendon and Lynn Bradley of Bayleys Tauranga are marketing the property by tender, closing on August 20. Brendon Bradley says the current owner feels it is time for someone else to carry the project forward and its partners are divesting of the site to pursue separate business interests.

Bradley says the position of the property directly opposite the hospital is ideal for medical-related practices. It would suit many specialists who could service private patients in their rooms and walk over to the hospital to tend those in public wards.

"The site presents an outstanding opportunity to capitalise on the ageing of the Bay of Plenty population and the associated demand for high-end healthcare.

"Although the practices would be operated separately, the aim was that each would come together to provide excellence in healthcare for the Tauranga region."

Bradley says that while Avenue Property Developments is now selling the site, the vision of the principals would remain with any new purchaser. Neil Hamilton would be available as a consultant if required.

"This company has done all the hard work and has provided a platform for the complex to proceed and succeed and it is now at the stage where it requires both medical expertise and significant financing to complete."

Original concept plans for the multi-specialty medical care centre, including general anaesthetic day surgery facilities, were prepared for resource consent which was granted in April 2008.

They encompass a five-level commercial building comprising three large floors of about 6174sq m, designed specifically for medically aligned tenants, together with two levels of basement car parking for 238 cars.

"A second set of concept plans have since been commissioned from specialist medical architects Chow Hill, which proposes either a two-stage or a three-stage project," says Bradley.

"Each stage provides for three levels of building that on completion will result in a total floor area of 7111sq m plus underground parking.

"The vendors say that these plans have been sighted by Tauranga City Council, which has indicated that a variation to the existing resource consent would be required for this proposal to proceed."

The options for both concepts include the sale of space through a strata title process or for tenants to lease space directly from the development company. Indicative leasing rates for the proposed medical tenancies have been in the $350-390 per sq m range, says Bradley.

He says that the objective of MedPark, as it was named by the developers, was to create a hub for the medical community in Tauranga.

He adds that the size of the site, which is zoned Residential A in one of Tauranga's prime locations, is a rare opportunity.

Bradley says it also offers numerous options for other developments.