Sign In / Register
The region’s largest new light industrial complex for several years opened last month, though it’s not in one of the region’s main commercial hubs of Warkworth or Wellsford.
Instead, the 52 units and café that make up The Workshops are sited just a stone’s throw from the boutique shops and markets of Matakana, tucked in behind the butchers and ITM, off Matakana Valley Road.
The 11,000sqm site, which is bordered by the Matakana River, was the last vacant land zoned for light industry in the township and has been built by Auckland-based developer Conrad Properties.
Partner and director Ben Dearlove said the concept for the Workshops came about as a result of witnessing the development of Matakana over many years.
“I have been holidaying at Omaha since the mid ’80s and spend as much time there as possible,” he said.
“Watching the village and surrounds evolve into a bustling hub, and speaking to friends and neighbours, it was clear there was demand for bite-size commercial investments.”
The units, which range in size from 46sqm to more than 150sqm, are all at least six metres high and include an internal mezzanine floor. They can be used for a range of activities, including storage, warehousing, distribution, food preparation, manufacture, retail and offices.
Dearlove said the buildings’ design, incorporating pitched roofs with dormers, rough-sawn board and batten cladding and dark colouring, was designed to reflect the rural and historic nature of the village.
“The council planner and urban designer challenged our architect to come up with an aesthetic that was sympathetic to the underlying rural and farming nature of the existing surroundings,” he said.
With the design and consenting process, the workshops have taken just over three years to complete, and purchasers and lessees are now beginning to take up residence.
“The timing of the construction worked in perfectly with the passing of covid lockdowns and material supply chain issues, and GN Construction actually completed the works slightly ahead of programme,” Dearlove said.
Occupants are now moving in, with uses so far including office space, an art and framing studio, luxury car and boat storage, warehousing and a private art gallery.
Some units and the double-fronted café building were yet to sell as Mahurangi Matters went to press – prices start at $625,000 and go up to just under $2 million.
Dearlove said Matakana Workshops’ position was ideal, as it was quiet and private, but within easy reach of shops and amenities.
“We are finding the location is key to those who understand the value of employees and clients being able to walk to the cafes, bars, restaurants and boutique retail,” he said.
“Everyone loves to work in a busy vibrant village, which differentiates this development from other remote rural commercial properties.”
Matakana Community Group chair Simon Barclay said the Workshops were what they were – “small units that can be used for a multitude of small businesses or personal use” – but had concerns over road safety around their entrance way.
“I am concerned about the fact that I have witnessed near-misses with children riding bikes or walking past the entrance by the butcher’s, and the fact that there are no road markings alerting pedestrians walking along or cars exiting,” he said.
Dearlove said this was something he would be looking into.
