Six sites left in new Hobsonville industrial subdivision

Aerial view of the new Hobsonville Workspace industrial subdivision under development at 102 Hobsonville Rd, Hobsonville.

Only six sites remain available in the initial release of lots in a new industrial subdivision being developed by The Neil Group in Hobsonville that will help provide jobs for a rapidly expanding population in north west Auckland.

Earthworks and roading are well advanced on the project branded Hobsonville Workspace at 102 Hobsonville Road, next to Hobsonville Primary School and close to the massive Hobsonville Point residential development that is quickly taking shape on the former Hobsonville airbase.

Sites located in Hobsonville Workspace range from 2211 sq m to 5671 sq m and 11 have so far been sold or are under contract to a mix of owner occupiers, developers and investors. "There has been a lot of interest in these sites well ahead of their availability for occupation which reflects the strong demand for a limited supply of well located, good quality industrial land in west Auckland," says Grant Miller who is marketing the subdivision for Bayleys with colleagues Laurie Bell and Mike Adams also of Bayleys' West Auckland division.

Grant Miller, of Bayleys.

Purchasers will be able to move onto their land once the subdivision has been completed and titles are issued which is expected to be late this year or early 2016.

The remaining lots available for purchase range in size from around 3500 sq m to 4500 sq m and are priced from $375 per sq m to $550 per sq m. A further six lots in the 23 lot subdivision are unavailable at this stage.

Miller says there are likely to be opportunities for tenants at Hobsonville Workspace on sites that have been sold to developers. Concept plans have been drawn up on one of the lots that is under contract to a developer for five warehouse and office units ranging from 358 sq m to 736 sq m.

"There is going to be huge demand for trades providers, such as electricians and plumbers, to service all the new development in the north west and these premises will be designed for them and other smaller business tenants," says Miller.

Hobsonville Workspace is part of nearly 70 hectares of land located between Hobsonville Road and the Upper Harbour Motorway, in what has become known as the Hobsonville Corridor, that has been zoned for light industrial use. The Neil Group, and another long-established companyJomac Property, are driving the master development of most of the land for businesses which will provide services and generate employment for the northwest's growing population.

Jomac Development is about to get underway on the subdivision of around half of a neighbouring land holding that it will be developing. The initial two stages will encompass areas of 3.2 ha, with sites from 4000 sq m to 6000 sq m; and 4.2 ha with 2400 sq to 6000 sq m lots.

Jomac is also targeting other developers, owner occupiers and investors for site sales although design-build options for tenants are also being offered. Jomac's property asset manager Mark McKearney says it is likely around half of the sites will be used for this purpose.

He is expecting most demand to come from the North Shore, where an acute shortage of land has made it hard for larger companies in particular to find suitable premises, as well as from businesses already based in West Auckland but looking for a better location.

The Neil Group's development manager Trevor Canty says extensive wetland planting and access to a future cycleway are part of a partnership with Auckland Council to enhance amenities for businesses based at Hobsonville Workspace. He says building covenants will also stipulate a high standard of construction to maintain the integrity of the development.

Miller says Hobsonville Workspace is close to the Upper Harbour Motorway which connects with both State Highway One and the North Western Motorway, giving good access to all parts of Auckland. It is also positioned between two massive master planned developments: Hobsonville Point and Westgate Town Centre.

Mike Adams, of Bayleys.

Located on a 167 hectare site on a panoramic peninsula that juts into the upper Waitemata Harbour, Hobsonville Point is a $3 billion staged housing development being undertaken over a projected 10-15 year period.

The project will encompass 3000 to 3500 residences, priced from under $500,000 to $1.5 million, a retirement village and commercial, community and recreational amenities for an estimated 8000 residents. The master planning and development of Hobsonville Point is being overseen by Hobsonville Land Company Ltd, a government owned entity formed specifically to run the project as part of the government's aim to increase the supply of quality medium density housing in Auckland.

So far over 800 homes have been sold, in excess of 300 so far in 2015. The demand for property is so high that 95 percent of all homes are selling off the plan and the development of 1,000 new homes has been bought forward by two years, says Hobsonville Land Company's chief executive Chris Aiken.

Government's designation of 167 hectares of land at nearby Scott Point as a Special Housing Area has the potential to add up to 3000 new further dwellings to the immediate environs.

At the other end of the Hobsonville Corridor, the Westgate Town Centre, a 56 hectare mixed use development located at the nexus of the Northwestern and Upper Harbour motorways is also taking shape. Stretching about two kilometres from end-to-end, it is being master planned by NZ Retail Property Group (NZRPG) in collaboration with Auckland Council.

Auckland Council is outlaying around $220 million to fund public infrastructure which includes a 4.5 ha town square, library, underground bus station and recreation areas. NZRG is responsible for the commercial aspects of the project encompassing retail, office and industrial premises as well as some residential and leisure and entertainment facilities.

On the other side of Northside Drive, a new road providing access to the northern end of the Westgate Town Centre, The Neil Group is undertaking another industrial subdivision where 12 of 14 lots ranging in size from 1741 sq m to 6244 sq m have so far been sold or are under contract.

Miller says a further industrial subdivision further along Northside Drive and within the Westgate Town Centre, is about to get underway. Its lots are sized from 2960 sq m to 1.117 ha which he says means they can cater for a wide range of businesses.