Simplicity Living is set to build 264 homes for long-term rent in Morningside, Auckland, with construction beginning in the middle of this year. Image / Supplied
Simplicity Living is set to build 264 homes for long-term rent in Morningside, Auckland, with construction beginning in the middle of this year. Image / Supplied
Auckland’s Morningside is set to gain a large new build-to-rent development in the heart of the suburb, as Simplicity Living confirmed it had secured resource consent to get the project under way.
Comprised of 264 homes for long-term rent, the development will cost at its peak roughly $175 million and employ over 400 people on- and off-site.
Managing director of Simplicity Living, Shane Brealey, said Simplicity was on a mission to provide thousands of high-quality homes across New Zealand.
“Our unique combination of vertically integrated planning, construction, finance, ownership and management allows us to build better, faster and at lower cost,” Brealey said.
“And being funded via Simplicity KiwiSaver and Investment Funds means we can build through the economic cycle, employing quality tradespeople over the long term.”
Simplicity Living is 100% owned by funds managed by Simplicity, a default KiwiSaver and investment fund manager.
Simplicity Living is set to build 264 homes for long-term rent in Morningside, Auckland with construction beginning in the middle of the year. Image / Supplied
Situated about 150 metres from the Morningside train station, the development will feature a unique rooftop resident work-from-home space.
Extensive landscaping work will be completed alongside, and feature about 1500 native trees and plants.
As part of the build-to-rent development, there will be a resident pavilion lounge and cafe.
To accommodate the tenants of the 264 rentals, car and bike parks will be built, with electric charging units included for electric vehicles.
The development will be built to a minimum Homestar 7 standard, with a 150-year design life.
As part of that commitment, the building will feature solar panels and rainwater will be stored for use. Reducing waste during the construction will also be a key focus.
No details have been revealed about the size or scale of the homes nor their estimated price.
The project is in addition to Simplicity Living’s 297-home Te Reiputa development in Mount Wellington, which is on track for completion in May 2026, and its 330-home Waiatarua development in Remuera, scheduled to open in January 2027.
Simplicity Living has already completed three developments in Pt England, Onehunga and Mt Albert, with a combined 210 homes fully rented.
Once construction begins at Morningside, it will have another 891 homes under construction.
The Morningside development is scheduled to be completed by mid-2027.
Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business and retail.
