News Release

12 February 2014

Consent granted for New Zealand’s 2nd tallest building

Construction of New Zealand’s second-tallest building on one of central Auckland’s longest-standing vacant lots has been given the green light by planning commissioners, says Mayor Len Brown.

At the corner of Elliot and Victoria Street, the Auckland Centre tower is a 52-storey, 209 metre commercial development by Shanghai based New Development Group (NDG). It will comprise a 302-room hotel and entertainment complex, residential apartments, shopping centre, restaurants, cinema and sky decks. It is on the route of the City Rail Link adjoining the northern end of the Aotea station.

“Alongside the Sky Tower, this will be a world class development for Auckland that will create hundreds of new jobs, energise the CBD and boost Auckland’s GDP, through a more than $350 million investment by NDG,” Len Brown said.

“It’s also an example of the major commercial opportunities created by the City Rail Link project. To date the private sector has confirmed more than a billion dollars of new investments along the proposed route, including Precinct Properties’ downtown retail and office development ($300m+) the NZ International Convention Centre ($400m+) and NDG Auckland Centre ($350m+).”

Auckland Council Design Champion, Ludo Campbell-Reid, says the mixed-use building will breathe new life into Auckland’s mid-city and will work well with the planned Victoria Street Linear Park development outlined in the 2012 City Centre Masterplan.

“The council’s vision for the city centre and the plan for the City Rail Link has revived interest in high-quality development that is creating a vibrant new heart for the city region. We are seeing disused sites becoming viable again and design that references a revived city centre where people are considered first and foremost. This is an exciting time for Auckland.”

Key Facts - NDG Auckland Centre

• Will cost around $350 million with a building consent target of 2015 and completion by 2020.

• Will stand 209 metres above the main entrance in Albert Street and 217 metres above Elliott Street making it New Zealand’s tallest commercial building after the Sky Tower.

• New Zealand’s tallest buildings will be:

o Sky Tower (328m)
o NDG Auckland Centre (209m)
o Vero Centre (172m)
o Metropolis (155m)

• The new project will incorporate a range of activities including a 302-room hotel and entertainment complex, residential apartments, shopping, restaurants, a cinema and two sky decks areas within the tower structure.

• At the base of a slender high rise tower will be an eight level retail podium structure and below ground there will be six levels of car parking.

• The proposed retail and entertainment complex will create a dynamic and exciting environment for the public to enjoy.

• The design will also enhance the urban space and connectivity with a footpath link, internal pedestrian circulation and arcade areas, a plaza to Albert Street, and a podium garden area.

• The site has been used as a car park since the 1980s, when the Royal International Hotel was demolished.

Ends

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