Sunderland at Hobsonville Point

Sunderland at Hobsonville Point

Setting a new standard of homes in Auckland’s under-supplied housing market

Twenty five new high quality homes are about to go on sale at Sunderland at Hobsonville Point, with another 185 to follow over the next two years.

The Sunderland A precinct, marketed by developers Willis Bond as Sunderland, offers a rare opportunity for home buyers to purchase well-designed, efficient and durable new homes ready-made to suit a range of lifestyles.

The Sunderland showhome opens to the public on November 22, providing a preview of the outstanding standard of homes available.

The precinct stretches along the warm northern coastal boundary of Hobsonville Point, a 167 hectare block owned by the Crown and developed by Hobsonville Land Company. Located on the former Hobsonville Royal New Zealand Air Force base, Sunderlandpromises a new standard of living for Auckland, featuring a variety of new terraced houses and freestanding homes, as well as fully-refurbished heritage homes.

Sunderland is being brought to the market by Willis Bond & Co through its development fund, Willis Bond Capital Partners. Investors in the fund include NZ Super, ACC and Government Superannuation as well as Willis Bond itself.

Sunderland project director Wayne Silver says Willis Bond has opted for an integrated approach to the development.

“Studio Pacific Architecture was appointed to design a masterplan for the entire precinct – from services and roads to individual homes and landscaping – meaning Sunderland has a very considered overall look and feel. It features neighbourhood parks within clusters of homes, a mix of enduring natural materials and staggered streetscapes for more interesting visual appeal.

“Sunderland is also the first precinct in Auckland to target a minimum Homestar 6 rating for environmental and energy efficiency for all new homes. The homes represent best-in-class sustainability,” says Silver.

Willis Bond Managing Director Mark McGuinness is confident in the company’s ability to bring to Hobsonville Point a standard of living and design not yet seen there.

“These homes feature as standard high stud interiors, premium materials and finishes including polished concrete floors and cedar cladding, thermally broken joinery, high quality fittings, stone bench tops and soft-close doors and drawers. It’s a level of specification far beyond what is considered industry standard.”

The premium design features are not only reserved for the top tier of Sunderland homes, but are standard throughout the precinct. Most features will also be included in the 15 per cent of houses to be offered as Axis Series homes at affordable prices.

The residences at Sunderland are broadly split into three categories – terraced homes, freestanding homes and restored heritage homes which comprise 17 fully refurbished residences built originally in the 1930s to house officers of the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

Standard terraced homes feature three or four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a single garage and are priced from around $820,000.

Axis Series homes feature two bedrooms, a bathroom and a single car pad for $485,000. The first of these homes is expected to go on sale in May 2015.

Willis Bond is an experienced property development company which acquired the rights to develop the 7.4 hectare Sunderland A Precinct in a competitive tender administered by Hobsonville Land Company.

McGuinness emphasises Willis Bond’s commitment to developing projects designed to stand the test of time.

“Our vision for Sunderland is to build on the award-winning planning and infrastructure provided by Hobsonville Land Company to deliver best-in-class homes that form the centre of a vibrant, long lasting community.”

Hobsonville Point facts:

Total area: Master planned community covering 167 hectares

Sunderland area: 211 homes covering 7.4 hectares

Population: 8,000 housed, 2,000 working

Previously: Royal NZ Air Force base established for land- and sea-based aviation in 1924

Where: 11km and 20 minute drive in off-peak from Auckland CBD

Sunderland developer: Willis Bond & Co, established in 1988

Lead architect: Studio Pacific Architecture

Heritage architect: Salmond Reed Architects

Construction: Haydn & Rollett Construction.

About Willis Bond & Co:

Willis Bond & Co is an Auckland and Wellington based company specialising in property development. Its projects are predominantly large-scale, waterfront and urban mixed-use developments. Examples include the award-winning $175 million Chews Lane Precinct, the $180 million Clyde Quay Wharf and a number of Auckland projects including the first stage of a residential and mixed-use development at Wynyard Quarter with a project end value of over $200 million.

Willis Bond has founded a number of property-related funds including Willis Bond Capital Partners and Willis Bond Capital Partners II. The two Willis Bond Capital Partners funds comprise $228 million of equity available for development activity in New Zealand. Investors in the funds include the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, the Government Superannuation Authority, ACC and a number of high nett worth individuals as well as Willis Bond itself.

The company has strong, established relationships with its consultants and contractors, who must be best in class and closely aligned with the outcomes of projects. Willis Bond aims to implement environmentally sustainable design and places strong value on creating long lasting communities. It is a member of the New Zealand Green Building Council. Willis Bond is a key funder of The McGuinness Institute, a think-tank on sustainability looking at the issues associated with managing New Zealand’s long-term future.

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