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Shopping centre giant Westfield is rejecting suggestions that it has shelved plans for its new Auckland office and shopping tower and says leasing negotiations are at an advanced stage.
Justin Lynch, director of Westfield New Zealand, said plans were still on to redevelop its Downtown site between Albert St, Customs St and Queen Elizabeth II Square.
Neighbouring building owners said they had heard Westfield had postponed the project which would see Downtown demolished, new shops developed and a large new tower go up.
But Lynch said this week the business was still keen to build Westfield Tower, expected to be about the same height as the 39,450sq m Vero Centre but with about 50,000sq m premium-grade office accommodation and around 7300sq m of retail space.
"Westfield New Zealand pro-actively reviews its assets to determine development potential as part of our normal business practice.
"As part of these reviews, Westfield has identified the development potential for an office tower on the Westfield Downtown Shopping Centre site which might include a 30-odd storey office tower, two levels of retail space and over 450 car parking spaces," Lynch said.
"The major first milestone for the proposed project was to obtain resource consent. This milestone has now been reached with a non-notified resource consent granted in April.
"Currently, Westfield is in active confidential discussions with a major tenant regarding occupation of the office tower component of the project."
The company was also in a detailed working partnership with Ontrack and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority over extending the rail network to allow for the future city loop.
"Until a firm decision has been made to proceed with a redevelopment of the asset, the shopping centre will continue to trade as usual."
