An expanding Turners buys old PlaceMakers building in Whangārei

Workers stripping down the entire building to make way for a bigger showroom and officers for Turners. Photo / John Stone

A growing business has seen Turners Group buy the old PlaceMakers site in Whangārei that boasts a massive 8000sq m of space that had been vacant for years.

Work is under way to strip the entire building on Walton St and to remove the mezzanine floor so there's one big open showroom with offices out the front.

The 11-year lease on Turners' current auction site, showroom and offices on Dyer St expires in February and the company is expected to move into its new site on Walton St soon after.

"Business has really grown in Whangārei so [we] needed a bigger footprint, wanted to be in town. [The] current site is in industrial area. This is part of Turners expansion over the past five years from being just auctions to being a dealership as well," said group chief executive Greg Hedgepeth.

He said the new site would be easier access for customers with greater exposure, road frontage and a much larger retail display area.

"Turners is the largest buyer and seller of used vehicles in New Zealand. We're still looking to grow and the investment in a larger and more prominent site on Walton St is a key part of that growth plan," Hedgepeth said..

"It is also a recognition of the role that Whangārei and the wider Northland region have to play in achieving this growth. We're looking forward to opening the doors to the new branch in 2019."

PlaceMakers has moved to a new building on Kioreroa Rd.