The industrial estate on the outskirts of Hamilton has a range of warehouse and office buildings. Photo / Supplied
The industrial estate on the outskirts of Hamilton has a range of warehouse and office buildings. Photo / Supplied
By True Commercial
There has been strong demand for initial sites released in a new 60ha industrial estate being developed on the outskirts of Hamilton.
Close to 30 lots have already been snapped up in the Te Rapa Gateway industrial park between the new SH1 Waikato Expressway and the main north-south railway line.
The land is also ready to build on with all the latest infrastructure and services in place, including ultra-fast broadband.
The location is also across the road from The Base, one of New Zealand's largest retail and leisure centres.
Roading and infrastructure work were completed late last year on the first two stages of the development encompassing about 23.2ha and a range of warehouse and office buildings have been completed or are underway.
Sites in The Gateway are available to purchase from 2200sq m and there are also warehouse/office leasing options currently under construction from 490sq m to 1346sq m.
Occupants now on site, or who will be moving in, include: Bidvest New Zealand which acquired 1.35ha for a new 5200sq m food store and distribution centre; Hynds Pipes; The Tool Shed; Viridian Glass; Jumpflex Trampolines; Lely NZ; Normans Transport & Storage; Fosters Construction and the Waikato Kindy Association, which has purchased a site for an early childhood education facility.
Alex ten Hove, who is marketing the project for Bayleys with colleague Andrew Shaw, says the Te Rapa Gateway is perfectly positioned to service the "Golden Triangle" of Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton.
"It is at the gateway to Hamilton, 10 minutes from the CBD and five minutes from Kiwirail's container depot, with Auckland and Tauranga also within 90 min drive.
"The zoning permits a diverse range of warehousing, bulk storage, processing, manufacturing, service and repair and auto related activities with a height limit of 20m.
"Flexible land packages are available to suit all needs and sizes at around $265 per sq m - well below what you would pay in Auckland for similarly strongly positioned industrial land.
"The land is also ready to build on with all the latest infrastructure and services in place, including ultra-fast broadband. Hamilton City Council has approved a comprehensive development plan for the entire site, so no further consents are needed in most cases apart for a building consent. Development levies have also been pre-paid based on 30 per cent site coverage.
"The industrial park is close to large residential areas providing a plentiful supply of skilled labour," ten Hove says.
The Te Rapa Gateway is being developed by Port Otago subsidiary Chalmers Properties, which has developments and investments in Dunedin, Auckland and Hamilton.
A recently completed six-unit complex designed by Taylored Studio available for occupation. Photo / Supplied
Ten Hove says Chalmers Properties can provide custom designed standalone warehouse and office premises tailored to a business' specific requirements from 1000sq m and is also constructing a range of premises for lease on Arthur Porter Drive, Te Rapa Gateway's main road.
A six-unit complex designed by Taylored Studio has recently been completed and is available for occupation. It features two road frontage units with 602sq m of warehousing and 100sq m of office, each with an annual asking rental of $86,220 net per annum and four smaller units with 409sq m of warehouse and 91sq m of office with a rental of $63,325 net pa.
Shaw says the units consist of clear span warehousing with a stud height of six-to-eight metres, with 30sq m canopies over their roller doors and well-presented air conditioned offices over two levels.
A second development further along Arthur Porter Drive, comprising two larger warehouse and office buildings of close to 1300sq m with full drive-around truck access, is scheduled for completion early next year.
Designed by Eclipse Architecture, they feature modern office facades, clearspan warehousing with a 9m stud to the knee and generous yard areas.
One building with 1116sq m of warehousing - plus a 136sq m canopy and 220sq m of office - has an asking annual rental of $184,040 net.
The other building on a corner site has the same office and canopy space plus a 1071sq m warehouse and an asking rental of $178,640pa net.
Michael Clark, Chalmers Properties' sales and development manager, says sites are being developed to a high standard to ensure they are fully serviced and geo-engineered to meet the latest industrial requirements.
"We have also put comprehensive covenants in place to ensure a good mix of high quality businesses will operate in the park, protecting the value of properties."
He says the major drawcard for purchasers and tenants has been Te Rapa Gateway's location alongside the Waikato Expressway and The Base.
On scheduled completion in 2021, the $2.1 billion Waikato Expressway will provide a continuous 102km dual-carriageway beginning at the end of Auckland's southern motorway in Bombay and carrying through to Cambridge.
Clark says moving forward, proposed bus and rail links close to the industrial park will also be an important feature for Gateway businesses and their staff.
"The Rotokauri planned urban area on the opposite side of the expressway will provide additional potential future customers for businesses moving to Te Rapa Gateway, while the Te Rapa area also provides most of the amenities available within larger cities.
"The Gateway will also be close to developing regional infrastructure like Tainui Group Holding's planned 500ha inland port at Ruakura."
