Wilshire purchased 6.996 hectares over 11 titles at 28-44 and 50-66 Westgate Drive in Auckland’s Westgate area. Just off State Highway 1, the site is just 20 minutes from the CBD and zoned THAB (Terrace Housing and Apartment Building). Positioned a short 150-metre walk from the Westgate Town Centre, the location is a growing retail area where international retailers such as Costco are planning to open in coming years.

Sales & Operations General Manager Christie Wrightson and Property Development General Manager Simone Horrobin (former Development Manager at Todd Property Group), explain the site Wilshire has purchased has numerous advantages.

“It is in an established residential area, it’s close to transportation, businesses, and job opportunities. It’s a high-growth area,” says Wrightson. “We’ve been amazed how much interest there’s been already, in particular we’ve been fielding a large number of queries from house builders.”

The land holdings sit in two parcels with the site closest to the town centre being marketed as the EdgeWest residential development. Wrightson explains, "With such high interest from home builders after purchasing the site, we worked quickly with our land development Arm Founders, to create a high value package for our build partners. We completed a masterplan, provided attractive builders terms and brought in Vincent Capital to offer construction finance. This model has proven to be very successful.”

Approximately 180 homes will be built in the next few years at EdgeWest, with builders starting on site from May 2021.

The larger balance of the site is being masterplanned by Founders and according to Wrightson, it will become a residential community similar to Wilshire’s highly successful Richmond development in Mount Wellington. The medium-density area will have a mix of walk-up apartments, terraces, standalone homes, and duplexes. Construction works for this larger site will commence end of next year.

The Auckland Council estimates Westgate’s population could increase by nearly 82,000 (81,760 to be exact) by 2048. Horrobin says Wilshire’s new acquisition shows not just a commitment to the area and its immediate future, but its long-term future too.