Apartment block delayed

A flagship development of luxury apartments above and around Milford’s shopping mall has been put back, and buyers refunded their deposits.

A showroom for the 115-apartment block, known as The Milford, the first stage of a larger residential development planned for the Milford Shopping Centre by NZ Retail Property Group, has also been closed.

Group general manager of communications and marketing Sara Johnson said the company has decided to push The Milford’s development commencement back to next year.

‘‘As we approached the Christmas period, we have had to consider numerous factors including the current construction and financial environments and importantly the impact on the retailers within our shopping centre,’’ she said.

The development was set to have 33 two-bedroom apartments, 82 three-bedroom apartments, a 150 square metre pool, a gym and an entertainment theatre.

Auckland Council approved planning consents for the company’s designs last year, including 167 apartments, as well as a 2500 square metre expansion and upgrade of the existing mall.

Johnson confirmed some of the apartments had been sold, but said, due to the delay in construction, the company has released the buyers of their agreements and refunded their deposits.

She said development would likely go ahead mid-2018.

‘‘As we approached the Christmas period, we have had to consider numerous factors’’ Sara Johnson