Red tape stalls 32 new homes
A leaky building eyesore will transform into new homes by Christmas after sitting vacant for almost a decade.
Pepperwood Mews in West Auckland has been plagued with problems ever since it was built in 2004.
Rich-lister Richard Langridge purchased the council-owned leaky building in 2014 for $2.28 million to turn it into a residential complex with 32 rental homes.
Last year he said he hoped the units would be ready by May 2018, but the end date now seemed closer to December.
Roadblocks – such as Auckland Council ‘‘misplacing’’ his consent application – have cost Langridge millions more than the price he paid, he said.
The development’s fit out consent was finally approved in May 2017, just days after the Stuff story about Pepperwood Mews was published, Langridge said.
‘‘Every delay costs me money,’’ he said.
Langridge planned to turn Pepperwood Mews into a ‘‘stateof-the-art’’ complex containing two-bedroom units and threebedroom units, with ensuites, a private courtyard and communal living areas.
The 15 units at the back of the 2880 square metre site had already been completed and work on the front units remained.
Council building consents manager Sally Grey said she could not comment on the timeline of the project.
‘‘There are many variables when it comes to the delivery of a project such as this, and the council’s only role was a regulatory one.
‘‘There are a number of consents for this project and last year the council acknowledged that one of these was delayed.’’
Pepperwood Mews has been marred by problems and delays since it was built in 2004 through a public-private partnership between Housing NZ and a developer.
The building was evacuated in 2009 after being declared structurally unsound.
A legal battle then ensued between 32 owners, Auckland Council and Housing NZ, with council filing a cross-claim against Housing NZ. A settlement was finally reached in December 2013 between private investors and Housing NZ.
The complex remained vacant for two years and became home to squatters until Langridge decided to buy it.