Development of New Zealand’s largest planned urban, business and retail facility — Westgate — is on track for completion in October 2015, and is set to transform Auckland’s north west region into a dedicated retail and lifestyle destination.
The development aims to meet the demands of the fast-growing west Auckland area and its surrounding communities, creating a total development of up to 56ha when fully completed, alongside an extensive network of parks and walkways spanning a further 6ha.
This includes 11 zones of retail and commercial activity, ranging from the town centre, bulky retail and trade-based zones.
Australasian firm The Buchan Group has had an involvement with the development for more than six years, working with New Zealand Retail Property Group (NZRPG) through the master planning, concept and preliminary phases of the overall comprehensive master plan.
To date, 70% of the DNZ development at Westgate has been leased, which incorporates a town centre surrounding a central square, with an additional internalised retail component.
The Buchan Group principal David Thornton says the new centre and surrounding facilities have been designed to serve the burgeoning north west community, and would benefit the entire Auckland region.
“Westgate Town Centre provides a unique opportunity like no other within Australasia at this time to provide a master planned, integrated town centre, based on traditional urban design principles and typologies,” Mr Thornton says.
“The layout and design of the town square’s large civic space, including the slow speed shared zone, will give the general public maximum use for community events.”
