Chancery owners set for court battle

Photo / Richard Robinson

A court case is being prepared against parties who created Auckland's Chancery shopping centre where $10 million to $12 million is needed to fix leaks.

Simon Stokes, a lawyer with Dawson Harford & Partners, said he was acting for Chancery's owners and had filed a claim against those who created the shopping, cafe and commercial precinct.

Chancery's developers were Richard Kroon and Brian Mead's Westmark Group and Mark Lyon's Mission Corporation.

Chancery was designed by Ignite Architecture and built by Multiplex Constructions (New Zealand), now called Brookfield Multiplex.

Herald attempts to contact Brookfield Multiplex over the issue have been unsuccessful.

Jeremy Wheelan of Ignite this week confirmed his firm's involvement in the case but referred to insurers covering businesses. Chancery had been designed according to the building standards of the time, he said.

Mr Stokes said owners were preparing for a major battle.

"Proceedings have been issued in the High Court at Auckland by the body corporate and owners - with the exception of three owners - against the developers, the building contractor and architects," he said.

Building consultants Prendos has prepared the large report documenting issues with the building and what needs to be done to fix it.
Steve Alexander of building consultants Alexander & Co said his firm had prepared a report for one of the defendants in the case.

Mr Stokes said the true extent of problems with the buildings was unknown.

"The final nature and extent of repairs needed has not yet been determined. There is likely, however, to be repair work carried out on - among other sections of the building - the parapets, roof membranes, decks, framing and walls."

Sources with close links to Chancery tenants and the Shortland St area however have suggested that repairs could total $10 million to $12 million.

Mr Stokes said Chancery was owned by 46 individual parties and held in 56 units or titles. How much each owner will need to spend fixing Chancery is unknown.

"The respective contributions of owners to the litigation is a matter for determination by the body corporate," he said.

The timetable for fixing the buildings was yet to be established and

Mr Stokes said no decision has yet been made as to when work would take place.