Westgate site could house new community

The 13.65ha triangular flat, freehold site with older buildings for sale at 76-78 Fred Taylor Drive, Redhills. Photo / Supplied

The purchase of a big Redhills prime site in Auckland's fast-growing Westgate, would give a buyer the chance to develop an entire community just minutes away from the NorthWest Mall and Westgate Town Centre.

"A Terraced Housing and Apartment Buildings zoning allows for the greatest density, height and scale of development of all the residential zones, " says Marie-Anne Molloy, commercial agent, with Barfoot & Thompson Commercial, who is marketing 76-78 Fred Taylor Drive for sale by tender closing at 4pm on Monday April 15.

Molloy says the freehold mostly flat land site of 3.6548 ha is to be sold with vacant possession.

"It's on Fred Taylor Drive near the corner of Dunlop Rd and has a gentle West facing contour with a wide frontage to Fred Taylor Drive; along with easy access to State Highway 16 Northwestern motorway and the connecting Northeastern State Highway 18 motorway to Albany."

She says the zoning permits high density terraced housing and apartment developments up to 16m in height.

"Nearby housing development is all but sold out in this fast-growing area, about 19km from Auckland CBD, and 31km from Auckland Airport."

Molloy says buildings can be constructed up to five, six or seven storeys in identified height variation control areas. "The zoning is predominantly applied to properties located around metropolitan, town and local centres where public transport networks can support the highest levels of development.

"The purpose of the zone is to make efficient use of land and infrastructure, increase the capacity of housing and ensure that residents have convenient access to services, employment, education facilities, retail outlets, entertainment centres, public open spaces and public transport. The intention is to promote walkable neighbourhoods and increase the vitality of centres."

The property had a rating valuation last July of $8,505,000 made up of a land value of

$8,175,000 and 'improvements' valued at $330,000 consisting of a number of older buildings.

"The buildings have been used by the vendors for their own business purposes for many years and they now believe them to be their 'used-by' date. The owners, who are moving into
Auckland City, are open to discussions with purchasers about either removing the structures or leaving them on the property 'as-is' if that is what a purchaser wants."

Molloy says the buildings could be of some use to a new owner while resource consent is sought for a planned development.