My Account
Twenty residential sites along a busy part of Whangaparāoa Road are to be sold to Hopper Developments.
And although local councillors considered that any development that increased the density of housing on this land would be disastrous for the road network, Cr Wayne Walker says with Hoppers at the helm he is hopeful of a positive outcome.
Auckland Council is selling 472-502 Whangaparāoa Rd and 4 Brightside Rd as one 1.352ha lot, via its property arm, Eke Panuku.
Panuku confirms settlement of the sale with Hoppers will take place on July 11. At that stage, the purchase price will be made public. The proceeds of sale will go back into the Council coffers to fund capital projects or debt.
The properties extend from just past D’Oyly Drive, around into Brightside Road. They are currently zoned Residential – Single House, and have north facing, coastal views.
When the land was put up for sale by Council five months ago, concerns were expressed by local councillors Wayne Walker and John Watson, the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board and members of the community, that if the 20 sites were amalgamated and sold to developers it could make a dangerous stretch of road even worse. The land was originally purchased for road widening, in the late 1990s, and since then this section of Whangaparāoa Road and the Brightside/Whangaparāoa intersection have become more unsafe due to an increase in traffic.
Aware of these concerns, in November last year, Panuku Assets & Delivery general manager, Marian Webb, told the paper that “there are no development outcomes related to the sale of these properties”.
“We are not expecting interest in purchasing multiple sites for large scale developments due to the typography of the land and plan changes required,” Webb said. “There is also a lack of support for intensification in the area given the busy main road location.”
Just a few months later, the properties were being marketed as for sale “individually, in any combination or as one consolidated holding”.
And Residential – Single House zoning is likely to change to the far more intensive Mixed Housing Urban zone under the Unitary Plan changes currently underway in line with government’s mandate.
Although he had considered that sale to developers would be the worst possible outcome, Cr Wayne Walker says he is somewhat relieved that Hoppers is the purchaser.
Hopper Developments is a local, family owned company with a long track record in the area, and lots of local knowledge.
“I have had a good working relationship with Hoppers and hope they will be a beneficial developer,” Cr Walker says. “They care more for the community than someone from outside the Coast and I’m sure if we discuss the issues they will listen and be able to see a way through. A development there with better roading design and safety would be best for their development as well as the wider community.”
Hoppers brand and strategy development manager, Shana Hopper-McCully, says the company has yet to determine a plan for the area, but will work to ensure the result is developed thoughtfully, taking into consideration the special elements of the local area.
“At this time we are looking at a low impact residential development which will add value to the neighbourhood,” Hopper-McCully says. “Transport infrastructure constraints, as with all Hopper Developments, will be fully investigated and a plan proposed which will have an optimal outcome.”
Hoppers local CV • In 1956 Hopper Developments was formed to undertake land development activities. Hoppers then was involved in both residential subdivision developments and the civil construction of significant parts of the Hibiscus Coast. • They included the Manly Park subdivision and subsequent subdivisions at Manly such as The Circle, Ladies Mile, Homestead Road, Onepu Lane, Polkinghorne Drive. • At Red Beach they developed Longview Subdivision including Amorino Drive, Thorburn and Rosario Cresc. Also the Bay Vista Subdivision, Bay Vista Drive, Albert Hall Drive, Higham Ferres Place, Rushden Terrace & William Bays Drive. • At Ōrewa, the Maygrove subdivision, Maygrove Drive, Settlers Grove, Lakeside Drive, Kath Hopper Drive. They own Maygrove Retirement Village. They have also undertaken subdivisions as joint Venture Partners with other well respected local developers at Stanmore Bay, Weiti Views and Ōrewa Kakariki Views.
