Stubbs development site works start in October

The developers of the land known as Stubbs Farm, on Warkworth’s north-western boundary, expect to start civil works in October.

The bulk of the land lies between Viv Davie-Martin Drive and Hudson Road, and is zoned for mixed housing, light industry, business, retail, parks and recreation, plus a network of proposed roads and pedestrian and cycle connections.

The proposed development is expected to include more than 1350 residential lots supported by a local centre incorporating retail/commercial/hospitality and live/work units. Medical facilities and a retirement village are also being considered.

The property was bought in December 2021 by a joint venture called The Neighbourhood North Limited (TNN). The major shareholder is WFT Finance and Investment Company Ltd, in partnership with Arena Investors. TNN’s three directors are Todd Strathdee (Arena), and Wayne Wright and Wayne Leslie Wright (WFT).

The development site covers a total of 61 hectares, which includes the Stubbs Farm and Middle Hill.

Wayne Leslie Wright (Wayne Wright Jnr) says securing the resource consent for Stage 1, opposite Mansel Drive, has been a key focus over the past six months.

“We are now moving into the Master Development Plan phase to establish the blueprint for the wider development site and subsequent resource consent packages,” Wright says.

The company hopes to settle on a name during this phase.

“We are still considering the inclusion of a retirement village that would substitute the lots in stage 2 of the project and it would likely be for around 400-plus residents. However, development of it will be offered as an opportunity to another operator and not within my own retirement village development portfolio.”

Wright says a particular focus of the first stage is on providing affordable housing for those that have been shut out of the property market in Auckland city.

A site blessing ceremony was held before Christmas.

“We expect to have another ceremony in September, launching the development prior to the start of Stage 1 works.”

The streetscapes in the development will look quite different than existing Warkworth neighbourhoods.