Auckland's sizzling hot building boom may be leading to some developers trying to meet demand by cutting corners - but there's one housing development where this couldn't be further from the truth.

The first stage of Market Cove - a 1200-home, 14 hectare project in Favona near Mangere Bridge on the shores of the Manukau Harbour - is about to begin using innovative, quality products with a developer determined to "push the boundaries of building".

It comes as Auckland Council's general manager of the building control team, Ian McCormick, says traditional building materials are becoming harder to find as the Auckland building boom gains momentum, causing builders to turn to substitute products to get the work done faster.

In many but not all cases, that can also mean better, provided the new products are 'up to code', he says in an article on the council's OurAuckland website.

But he says while there are some great new products on the market, "the boom has attracted a few cowboys trying to cut corners and some importers trying to bring in cheap, substandard products."

Suzie Wigglesworth, Market Cove's sales and marketing director, says the company is striking a different path and is, along with supplier Trade Innovations, working at the cutting edge of technology to craft quality homes with new products that push the boundaries of building.

"Our aim is to improve on minimum requirements, improve productivity and efficiency with the supply chain that enable us to get better homes future proofed for generations to come, for no more cost," she says.

The development is located in Favona on the former site of a market garden (tomatoes used to flourish in these fields) and the first stage of the development includes the construction of 20 terraced homes.

Called The Lanes, building begins this month. Due for completion in around eight months, the speed and efficiency of development is one of their key selling points.
"So much of the construction taking place in Auckland is extremely slow," says Wigglesworth.

She says use of innovative materials ensures The Lanes construction will proceed at a much quicker pace.

"We are using new products for our homes that provide better quality and smarter building structures making the building process more efficient. As an example The Lanes feature flooring slab underlays which have a warmth and dry factor close to four times your typical Kiwi home.

The Lanes terrace homes are also larger than many new builds on the market.
Starting at 174sq m, they have been designed to create "a sense of spaciousness" says Wigglesworth.

The brick-clad homes have been designed by leading architecture firm Young and Richards. Each terrace will be offset from the next to maximise privacy, with native vegetation planted along the footpaths to create a lush border between public walkways and private front yards.

The development will include a number of small green spaces, a large central park, and a community centre. The long-term vision is for the development to include retail areas, cafes, a corner store and public barbecues.

The three and four-bedroom terrace homes will have landscaped front and backyards, with views out to Mangere mountain. The bathrooms (each terrace house will have two or three of these) will feature floor-to-ceiling tiling and kitchens with walk-in pantries.
"And there is a magnificent view of the harbour as you look down the road," says Wigglesworth.

The homes, on sale now at a starting price of $855,000, should be completed and ready for occupancy in October. One side of the street will be developed in this first stage, with the opposite side of the street being built upon the completion of stage one.