Double trouble – neighbours oppose plan for twice as many houses

A group of Ōrewa residents is preparing for a fight as a neighbouring development plans to increase the number of houses it can build there by 132 percent.

The property, at 250 and 256 West Hoe Heights, is being developed by Shildon Ltd (sole director Andrew Fawcet of Auckland), and will be called Strathmill.

Rob Matthews lives alongside the site, in Boocock Crescent and received notification on December 22 that the developers wanted to increase the number of houses to be built from 201 to 467. Neighbours were given until January 9 to get their feedback in. 

“We always knew that the land would be developed and had no issues with the proposed 201 houses, but the traffic increase and density of what is proposed is a major concern,” Matthews says.

He says what is proposed is not in character with the area and neighbours also fear an impact on their property values.

“This area is already packed – with Ara Hills and Pacific Heights developments,” he says. “Infrastructure, such as schools, shops, public transport and sewage will not be able to cope.”

The government’s Medium Density Residential Standards (MDRS), introduced last year, enable this level of density (up to three storeys, including terraced housing and apartments).

The original resource consent for the site was granted by Auckland Council in 2018. To speed things up, the developer had the altered plan accepted into the government’s Covid-19 Recovery (Fast- track Consenting) process at the end of last year, although the application has not yet been lodged. Last year, the developer of 20 Melia Place, Whangaparāoa (by the Hibiscus Coast Community RSA) used the same method to gain consent.

It is a process that allows for written feedback from Council and close neighbours.

Council’s Resource Consents general manager, Ian Smallburn, says while Council does not yet have a stated position, it has noted that the proposal lacks information relating to transport and infrastructure.

Shildon Ltd development manager Andrew Allsopp-Smith says the proposal is intended to align with the MDRS and help meet housing demand.

“From the developer’s perspective, it is an appropriate number, given the 24ha size of the site,” Allsopp-Smith says. “Developing the site in this way avoids under-utilisation, which helps to prevent urban sprawl. It will bring significant economic value to the area, including employment.”

He says the developer is working closely with technical experts to make sure that there is the necessary infrastructure to support the development, that the design is in keeping with the surrounding area, and that effects are appropriately managed. 

“The reports prepared by these experts will form part of the resource consent application which will be assessed by an expert consenting panel under the fast-track consent process.”

Residents who are opposed to the plan held a meeting on February 18.

“We will do everything we can to fight this,” Matthews says.