Strategic holding next to massive project
A substantial block of land sandwiched between what is set to become one of New Zealand’s biggest corporate commercial and residential building projects has been placed on the market.
The 11.92ha block at Ohinewai, 5km north of Huntly in northern Waikato, is surrounded by land earmarked for the 176ha Sleepyhead estate being built by the mattress and bed manufacturer.
Plans unveiled for the $1.2 billion Sleepyhead estate encompass a massive warehousing and manufacturing complex adjacent to some 1100 new homes sustaining a predicted community of 3000 people – all to be built over a 10-year phased project.
The landholding for sale comprises three titles and borders the North Island main trunk rail line, Lumsden Rd, and Tahuna Rd. Ohinewai sits alongside the Waikato Expressway midway between Auckland and Hamilton.
In May independent planning commissioners appointed by Waikato District Council approved the application by Sleepyhead subsidiary Ambury Properties to rezone its Ohinewai landholding from a rural classification to three mixed-use designations specific to the locale – a residential precinct, business precinct and an industrial precinct.
Any potential appeals to the Environment Court on the council’s ruling must be filed by the middle of July.
Initial landscaping and earthmoving work for roading and utility services has already begun.
Now the combined landholding at 1, 52 and 56 Lumsden Rd has been placed on the market for sale by tender through Bayleys Hamilton, with the tender process closing on July 29. Salespeople Josh Smith and David Cashmore said the three lots range from 2551sq m up to 10.87ha.
The property for sale sits within the industrial and business precincts identified by Sleepyhead in its development masterplan lodged with the council.
The council’s current industrial land classification allows for an extensive range of industrial and service activities.
These include industrial warehouse premises, service station operations, vehicle repair workshops and non-retail trade-based units for the likes of plumbing, electrical and carpentry businesses.
Smith said that while final council approval for the pending Ohinewai Zone precedent was subject to an appeal, the two bigger parcels of land for sale at Lumsden Rd were also in the process of achieving a similar zoning.
This could allow for the site to be developed in conjunction with the Sleepyhead precinct.