With a resource consent now lodged with Auckland Council, PAK’nSAVE Highland Park is edging closer to becoming a reality.
Lindsay Rowles, GM property & membership for Foodstuffs North Island is excited this step has been made.
“We know residents in the Highland Park area want more certainty and we’re delighted that we’ve been able to take the next crucial step,” he says.
“We’ve submitted plans to Council for a fantastic shopping precinct which will include a state-of-the-art supermarket and room for other businesses and food service outlets. It’s important to us we provide a superior place to shop, be entertained and to work. That’s what we’re going to deliver.”
The site of the old mall will now become a development zone with strict health and safety protocols.
Locals will have noticed hoardings erected to prohibit access to most of the former mall, he said. The site will be managed by Colliers to ensure it is as tidy and clutter-free as possible.
All bar one of the previous tenants have chosen to exit the former mall to make way for the new development.
“We appreciate that some tenants had been in the area for some time and their move may have been upsetting for some residents – however we are committed to bringing New Zealand’s lowest food prices to the area and we’re now ready to roll on the next phase and look forward to working with remaining tenants in the centre to ensure the precinct is a well catered for shopping experience. ” said Rowles.
Countdown continues to hold a lease at the location and shoppers will continue to have access to the store for some time yet.
Like anyone carrying out building projects, Foodstuffs is unable to say with certainty when building works will commence, but the development team anticipates that once relevant consents are granted, works will take about 24 months to complete.
Rowles has plenty of other projects on his hands but says that the Highland Park site is one of the most important in the Foodstuffs stable.
“We think locals deserve a fantastic new PAK’nSAVE which will offer our famous low prices – and we’re excited to get to this stage of the process. We are confident this store will be an asset to the community, offer a great career path for more than 100 people and contribute in many ways to East Auckland’s vibrancy.”
