Village with room to grow

The Western Park Residential Village in Henderson has been under the same ownership for 12 years. Photo / Supplied

The Western Park Residential Village in Swanson Rd, Henderson, has come on the market after more than a decade in the vendors' ownership and is being sold as a going concern business with land and buildings by Clive Derbyshire, of Link Business Brokers.

"Auckland couple Darryl and Ann Heaven have owned and operated this residential village for the past 12 years and they are now are looking to build a new home and semi-retire," Derbyshire says.

"They feel the village is ready for a new wave of development and now is the time to give someone else the chance to further expand the business they have built up from a holiday-type camping and caravan park into a more permanent residential village."

The village comprises 102 residential sites for long-term residential accommodation on a 2.7ha freehold site in Ranui, Henderson, West Auckland.

"This property is one of the largest areas of land in the area that is currently not being used for residential development and a third of the land remains unused with full sewage facilities which would house an additional 50 or more self-contained studio units," Derbyshire says.

"It would be very difficult to find another piece of land within the city limits to get residential approval and consents from the council."

It has 27 one and two bedroom cabins and more than 30 caravans, with other units, including 15 trailer homes. A sealed driveway entry links into a security gate that provides further access to the rear units and caravan sites. More than 300 people live in the village short and long term.

"The occupiers have access to common ablutions and kitchen facilities," Derbyshire says. "All of the sites and caravans have reticulated electricity and gas supply which are provided free to the cabins and residential units.

Derbyshire says the continuing trend within the village is for more permanent, larger and newer chalets and dwellings replacing many of the original older-type caravans and cabins.

"The building of full onsite service facilities over the years, like laundry, kitchen, toilets, ablution blocks, and workshop, has encouraged a more permanent and higher standard of tenancy which is well supervised by the present management. Strict conduct rules have been put in place and are closely monitored and adhered to.

"The village now has an onsite local council office that pays rent to the village management, which has a close working relationship with a number of prominent and leading government agencies."

Included in the sale of the village is a two-storey, three-bedroom, air-conditioned owner-managers' house with a separate self-contained 172sq m studio and office, and a triple carport.

The village has a large workshop and storage facilities, two toilet blocks and two laundry blocks fitted with coin-operated machines. Other assets include a 10-seater van, a tractor, three trailers, a lawn mower, a golf cart for staff use and "every conceivable tool to make the maintenance as easy as possible".

"Tree and scrub planting have been an ongoing exercise," Derbyshire says. "The results can be seen in many gardens and healthy trees, enhanced by a dovecote."

Derbyshire says the village turnover had increased every year during the vendors' ownership.

"The business has an annual income stream of over $1 million with assets of $1 million and continues to generate a strong cashflow and a healthy return on investment for its owners, with excellent potential for further growth and profit opportunities."

He says the business, including land, buildings and other assets, is on the market for $2.5 million. A long-term lease is also being offered with options to freehold, Derbyshire says.

"The present owners see a potential to encourage more retired people to buy their own units at $27,000 each and pay only ground rent of around $145 per week including services. Young couples could do similar deals and, by paying $330 per week, could own a $27,000 unit within five years which would make great deposit on a new home."

The owners see such schemes as a way to boost turnover while not adding to the management costs.