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Australian home builder AV Jennings has been selected as a Government agency's preferred partner to develop the first 600 homes at the former Hobsonville airbase in northwest Auckland.
About 15 per cent will be affordable homes, says the Hobsonville Land Company, which is a subsidiary of Housing New Zealand. Hobsonville Land is working on a master plan for staged development of the 167ha base into a community of 3000 homes.
Hobsonville Land chief executive Sean Bignell said that the selection of the experienced Australian company followed a tender process.
Further commercial and legal negotiations were required before final agreement was reached.
Mr Bignell said Overseas Investment Office approval would be required. He said the $300 million first precinct of development involved 29.3ha, broader site infrastructure and the construction of about 600 homes.
Subject to consents, it was hoped site preparation could start next year and house building in 2009.
New Zealand builders will be used by the Australian company, which operates in four Australian states and last year had total sales of more than $500 million. The masterplan for the former base includes schools, parks, heritage buildings and a marine industry cluster, as well as 500 state houses and another 500 which will be sold to first-home buyers.
Housing New Zealand says its aims is for a sustainable community with a mix of house values in detached houses, and terrace houses and apartments.
