Town square development to proceed with community support

In an independent survey conducted by Colmar Brunton, 69% of people preferred one of the two development proposals. In the Auckland Council-run consultation, 55% of people who responded were in support.

Earlier engagement with the community identified the two preferred sites for the town square. A site between Hurstmere and Lake roads came out as the preferred location for this new public space in both the consultation (46% of responses) and the independent survey (40%).

Council’s Planning Committee and the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board were briefed on the results of the consultation at a workshop this morning.

North Shore Ward Councillor and Planning Committee Chair Chris Darby says: “The community has given us a clear steer that they want to see their village improved from a car park, to a safe and well-designed public space for people to love, with places to eat, shop, live, work and spend time.

“We can be confident in continuing with our plans to rejuvenate and open up public space in the core of Takapuna, off the back of the fantastic response of over 5300 submissions.”

Panuku Development Auckland is leading the urban redevelopment of Takapuna.

Panuku Director of Development Allan Young says that both the consultation and the survey were independently run to understand the desires of the community.

“With the independent survey backing up the result of the consultation, and both results being in favour of improvements to this space, we look forward to making sure we achieve the high-quality outcome that Takapuna is clearly looking for.”

40 Anzac Street is currently a 250-space car park located in the centre of Takapuna between Anzac Street and Lake Road, adjacent to Potters Park. The site has the potential to provide a mix of residential, commercial and public space with activated laneways linking it to Hurstmere Road. Panuku proposed that 40 Anzac Street is developed in to a vibrant hub that includes a new town square, shops, businesses and homes that will unify the heart of Takapuna.

The consultation received 5385 responses and was conducted from 23 July to 10 August 2018. Fifty-three per cent of respondents that disclosed their location were from the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area. An additional 28% were from the rest of the North Shore. The remainder of the responses were from the rest of Auckland (15%), or outside of Auckland/did not supply a location (4%).

The Colmar Brunton survey includes 563 respondents, is representative by age, gender and location and has a margin of error of 4.4%.

Panuku will seek expressions of interest from potential development partners for parts of the site before the end of the year. Design work on the town square will now continue to be shaped up and detailed design of the town square will be worked on next year.

Two hundred metres down the road at 14 Huron Street a new, multi-level car parking building will be constructed to replace the car parks at 40 Anzac Street. The modern building will be five storeys and will include 420 car parks as well as electric car and bike charging stations, bike storage, motorbike parking, accessibility parking and “end of trip” facilities including changing rooms. Construction will begin in October.

Quick facts – representative survey:

• 69% of people prefer one of the proposed options that would deliver a new town square over the status quo
• 40% prefer a town square located between Hurstmere and Lake roads. 29% prefer a town square adjacent to Potters Park
• 29% prefer no development
• The survey included 563 responses and is representative by age, gender and location

Quick facts – community consultation:

• 55% of people support a town square at one of the two proposed locations
• 38% support a town square located between Hurstmere and Lake roads. 8% supported a town square adjacent to Potters Park and 8% supported both options
• 41% support no development
• The consultation received 5385 responses
• 53% of the respondents that disclosed their location were from the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board area and an additional 28% were from the rest of the North Shore. 15% were from the remainder of Auckland. Only 206 respondents either live outside of Auckland or did not disclose their local board area