Huge site ‘next Highbrook’
Ahuge tract of freehold industrial development land for sale near Auckland Airport could become a business park on a scale to rival Highbrook, brokers say.
Colliers International is marketing the 67.76ha landholding on Puhinui Rd, Wiri, for sale by tender.
Just two minutes’ drive from the airport, the site is on four separate titles in the Puhinui Precinct, which Auckland Council has earmarked for future industrial growth. The titles are for sale individually or together and tenders (for any, or all four) must be submitted by 4pm on September 3.
“This opportunity has the potential to be the next Highbrook,” Colliers International’s Greg Goldfinch says, “the chance to acquire an industrial development site of this scale, so close to Auckland Airport and the motorway network.
“Current owners have invested many years of planning and design work to facilitate development of a new business park or industrial estate on the site. They have drawn up a comprehensive plan with input from Auckland Council, NZ Transport, consultants and adjoining owners.
“Potential buyers will be able to draw on expert advice, including yield calculations, roading plans, geotechnical, archaeological, cultural, landscape and storm water reports. With much of the hard work done, the new owner will be able to unlock the site’s potential almost right away, and perhaps save a great deal of time and money.”
Zoned Light Industry, the property is on four titles at 358, 420 and
440 Puhinui Rd and 92 Prices Rd. Goldfinch says the landholding benefits from about 692m of frontage to Puhinui Rd (St H 20B) and some
221m of frontage to Prices Rd. “Puhinui Rd is the main arterial route between Manukau and Auckland Airport, giving the property huge exposure to passing traffic.
“It is a tributary of SH20, which forms part of the recently completed Western Ring Route — a key piece of infrastructure that links Auckland’s northern, western and southern suburbs via the airport.
“The property itself is 1km west of the SH20 and SH20B interchange, and 1.5km east of Auckland Airport.
“Road frontage to Prices Rd provides a potential point of access away from the main highway traffic.”
Colliers’ Paul Jarvie says the property is ideally located close to both the Wiri and Auckland Airport industrial precincts.
“Wiri is one of Auckland’s fastest growing industrial precincts due to its central location and proximity to SH1 and SH20. The completion of the Waterview Tunnel has created greater access to the rest of the Auckland region and beyond, while the Wiri Inland Port provides direct rail access to the Ports of Auckland.”
Jarvie says most of Auckland’s
freight forwarders and logistics companies are based at or near the Auckland Airport industrial precinct. “The property for sale couldn’t be better placed to take advantage of freight and logistics business,” he says.
“Auckland Airport is the busiest airport in New Zealand and the second busiest in Australasia, with passenger numbers expected to more than double to 40 million by 2044.”
A massive investment programme is under way, with $2b in spending planned by 2022, including significant public transport and roading infrastructure.
A second runway is expected to be operational within a decade.
Jarvie says the property is vacant except for about 3500sq m at the southwest corner on Prices Rd, which is leased at $70,000 a year. The lease has a relocation clause. The landholding is contiguous aside from a small 1.21ha site at 440 Puhinui Road, on the corner of Prices Road.
Light Industry zoning provides for industrial activities that do not generate objectionable odour, dust or noise emissions.
This includes light manufacturing, production, logistics, storage, transport and distribution activities.
The zoning imposes no specified height limits, but there is a 10m height limitation directly adjacent to Puhinui Rd to provide a visual setback, while height controls are also in place for the central part of the site which sits under the flight path.
The wider Puhinui Precinct encourages industrial use; however, proximity to Auckland Airport makes sensitive activities such as dwellings or offices unsuitable on the site for sale.
Prior to development of the site, the owner has agreed that certain roading improvements will occur.
Now embedded in Auckland’s Unitary Plan, the precinct rules require a new road connection to be constructed at Puhinui Rd, and a new junction connecting Prices Rd to McLaughlins Rd. The vendors, in conjunction with NZTA, Auckland Transport, Auckland Airport and other landowners are working to ensure roading requirements can be delivered by 2020.