Developers look to cash in on Blenheim expansion

A large commercial subdivision is being planned for Blenheim's eastern outskirts as property developers line up to cash in on a shortage of business land in the town.

The de Castro family has bought 23ha of rural land at St Andrews and hopes to turn it into The Eastlake Commercial Centre for commercial and light industrial businesses.

The plan, which is still at the feasibility stage, comes as the Marlborough District Council considers the merits of another business development proposed for the other end of town.

Outer Limits is behind the Westwood Business Park plan to house bulk retail outlets in Springlands.

Both developments would require rural land on the outskirts of Blenheim to be rezoned as suitable for business building.

The Outer Limits plan has attracted some negative comment in the community and the developers are now working through some of the issues that were raised in an informal submission process.

The council is also waiting for the results of a survey of commercial property needs in the region before deciding whether to approve it.

Steve de Castro said family-owned company Eastlake Properties had been buying land in the St Andrews area for over two years.

Strong economic growth in Marlborough meant there was demand from existing businesses and out-of-town enterprises to expand in Blenheim, he said.

"We have businesses from out of town who have not been able to find an environment for their business. We've lost that growth to Nelson or Christchurch," he said.

Mr de Castro did not want to divulge the cost of the subdivision, other than sayinf it was "more than multi-million", but said it was on a scale which was nationally significant.

He hoped work on the subdivision could start in the second half of next year, but admitted progress was in the hands of the council, which is trying get its draft resource management plans finalised after years of delay.

- nzpa