It’s Bunnings ‘where?’ house
Plans for a massive out-of-town shopping complex took many people in New Plymouth by surprise when they were revealed.
They also appeared to take tools and hardware giant Bunnings Warehouse by surprise too when one its branches featured in the developer’s illustrations.
Bluehaven Management released images earlier this month of the multi-million dollar shopping and leisure centre it wants to build in Waiwhakaiho, on the former Ravensdown fertiliser site on the outskirts of the city.
The Tauranga-based company wants to create a commercial retail complex complete with restaurants, 30 specialty retail stores, a supermarket, a six-screen cinema, a 75-room hotel and a hardware store.
The illustration clearly showed a branch of Bunnings, which already has two sites in New Plymouth district.
But in an emailed statement, Bunnings general manager Jacqui Coombes said they had no confirmed plans to open in the development, which is currently being assessed by the New Plymouth District Council.
‘‘New Plymouth remains an area of interest for us and we would consider opening a new store there if the right opportunity became available.’’
Bluehaven Management spokesperson Scott MacLeod said there were no confirmed tenants. The image was used for illustration purposes only, he added.
- Jane Matthews