The Housing and Urban Development Ministry (HUD) has been given the go-ahead to subdivide almost 40 hectares of land in central Auckland in preparation for thousands of new homes.

An independent expert consenting panel today approved HUD’s application for fast-track consent to subdivide the old Unitec land on the boundary of Mt Albert and Pt Chevalier.

UNITEC

It will allow the land owner, the Crown, to convert the seven existing lots on Carrington Rd and Rhodes Ave - 39.7ha - to seven new “megalots” and five “potential open space lots”.

The megalots will eventually be developed by Waiohua-Tāmaki, Marutūāhu and Ngāti Whātua rōpū.

Architectural images of Marutūāhu and Ockham Residential apartments planned for a new suburb near to Mt Albert.

The land in line to be subdivided did not include that is currently owned by Unitec or the Mason Clinic. This resource consent also does not include any physical development work.

Other previous resource consents for the project have already been approved; for the daylighting of a stream, a stormwater outfall, other “backbone” infrastructure, land contamination remediation, two multi-storey units, and another 50 units.

HUD estimated the entire Carrington Residential Development project could take 15 years to complete. It boasted the potential for 4000 new medium- to high-density homes in an “urban village”.

HUD said the housing density in the new development was supported by Auckland’s Unitary Plan because of the location and the access to transport corridors and other amenities. A new primary school was also planned for the site.

The Herald has previously reported plans for the development, as well as community opposition to it.

Raphael Franks is an Auckland-based reporter who covers breaking news. He joined the Herald as a Te Rito cadet in 2022.