Lab structure suits food or drug firms

The interior (left) of the building at 49 Mahunga Drive, Manukau contains a $1 million lab fit-out. Photo / Supplied

Medical research company Virionyx has consolidated its operation into smaller premises, leaving its licensed and purpose-built medical manufacturing site close to Auckland's international airport for a new occupier with close to $1 million worth of laboratory fit-out.

The property at 49 Mahunga Drive, Mangere, which is highly visible from the new airport overbridge at Mangere, is now up for sale or lease as part of Bayleys Total Property portfolio by deadline private treaty closing April 7, through Richard and Peta Laery of Bayleys Manukau.

Peta Laery says the facility, which is still highly rated for bio-technology, is attracting attention because of its unique nature and location in the mostly industrial Mahunga Drive.

"This sought-after industrial enclave provides a direct link to the airport, Manukau City and Wiri and within a few months it will be linked up to State Highway 1, when it will really come into its own," she says.

The area is already the home to some large manufacturers such as Hubbards, Tyco, Carter Holt Harvey and Gartner Superlux.

The industrial buildings on the 5564sq m site date back to the late 1980s and are in immaculate condition, says Laery: "The site itself has also been well looked after and it comes with a large sealed yard area, which the research company used for staff parking, and a highly-secure perimeter fence."

The buildings comprise 767sq m of air-conditioned and carpeted offices and amenities, including a lunchroom, plus a 794sq m laboratory and warehouse with a stud of 5.7m, which incorporates 154sq m of mezzanine storage. There is heavy-vehicle access through a roller door in the northern side wall and one at the eastern end.

Laery says the building could have a range of uses because of its configuration. The best purpose would be for a new owner or tenant to use the existing laboratory fit-out. However, it could just as well suit another type of industry, such as pharmaceutical or food manufacturing, and could easily be converted back to standard warehouse space. She says the building is set back from the site boundaries and includes ample storage and warehousing space. Of additional benefit is the relatively low site coverage, which means there is approximately 470sq m of land that could be used to extend the building for a new tenant or owner-occupier.

Also included in Bayleys' Total Property, and also for sale by tender through Peta Laery, is one of the last smaller sites in Airport Oaks, only minutes from the airport, which is up for sale by tender through Laery, closing on March 31.

The 3221sq m bare flat site at 50 Pavilion Dr has a council reserve on the northern boundary and a tidal estuary on its southern boundary. It comes with plans and consents for a wide range of uses, from freight to logistics and storage. She says the Business 5-zoned site could accommodate a building up to 1600sq m in size.