First houses soon on old airbase

Construction is about to start on the first 82 houses at Hobsonville Point's new Buckley precinct.

Hobsonville Land Company chief executive Sean Bignell said the houses would be ready for the first residents early next year.

Earthmoving contractors are working over many hectares of the former airbase, forming sections near the entrance to the 3000-house project off the Hobsonville motorway.

Contractors Dempsey and Wood are doing civil works between the motorway and a pony club so four house-building firms can start laying floorslabs and putting up walls.

Universal Homes, Jennian Homes, G.J. Gardner Homes and Jalcon Homes will offer many different designs, some aimed at first-home buyers. Bignell said about 600 of the 3000 Hobsonville residences would be "affordable".

Rodney Chadwick, developments project director of AVJennings which is overall project manager, said places would start from about $350,000. These would be about 100sq m, one to two bedrooms and in either terrace, courtyard, detached or town-house styles.

The Real Estate Institute's national median house price last month was $350,000 and Auckland's median $450,500.

Bignell said the housing concepts were being vetted by a design review panel. Some of the more expensive new houses will be sold at around $750,000.

The 60ha Buckley Precinct is the first stage of the transformation of the coastal peninsula. Buckley will eventually have 1080 houses and townhouses, shops, two schools and a daycare centre. Big motorway works are being completed nearby.

The Squadron Drive offramp, giving west-bound motorists direct access from the Hobsonville motorway to the project, is yet to be sealed.

MOVING FAST

Now: earthworks at first sections.
Shortly: house designs approved.
Winter: house-building starts.
Early 2011: first residents move.