A shovel-ready parcel of greenfield land zoned for medium density residential development has come to the market under mortgagee sale conditions, giving developers entry into the high-growth Warkworth area north of Auckland.

The freehold circa- 3.65 hectare north-facing site at 39 McKinney Road, Warkworth went through a private plan change from Future Urban zone to Residential – Mixed Housing Suburban, one of the most favourable overlays for developers as it permits up to three dwellings per site.

Development is supported under the Warkworth McKinney Road Precinct Plan which incorporates around 7.6 hectares of land just south of Warkworth’s town centre, north of McKinney Road and to the east of Te Ara Tuhono, the Pūhoi to Warkworth motorway.

The subject development site has a wide road frontage and a moderate slope from its access to the rear boundary of the property.

Bayleys has been instructed by the mortgagee to take the land through a mortgagee deadline private treaty campaign closing 13th August, unless sold or withdrawn prior, with Marty van Barneveld and Henry Napier of Bayleys in the North’s projects and land development team handling the process.

With Warkworth identified as a key satellite town in the Auckland region and with forecast population growth of 20,000 people over the next 30 years, van Barneveld says proactive developers are looking for live-zoned land to enable them to get ahead of the next real estate curve and taking cues from projects that have already sold down well.

“There’s lots of activity in and around Warkworth with the roading network upgrades effectively closing the gap with Auckland and underpinning lifestyle moves for homeowners, and other necessary infrastructural works to underpin development, progressing.

“The Snells Beach wastewater treatment plant is nearing completion as part of a broader programme of work to improve the local wastewater network and support growth in Warkworth, Snells Beach and Algies Bay.

“This means a new owner of the McKinney Road site could utilise the land to its full potential now that the wastewater side of the equation has been worked through.”

The size of the greenfield landholding has enough scale for a significant residential development, while potentially allowing a developer to be in and out in a single earthworks season, says van Barneveld.

“This makes it a compelling opportunity for development entities looking for an accessibly sized and well-positioned landholding for a medium density residential development in an area that has proven demand.

“Additionally, the site has some gentle contour which will add interest to a development allowing each stage to have some nuance.”

The connectivity advantages unlocked by recent roading upgrades in the area have enabled easy access to metropolitan Auckland, with land in McKinney Road well-placed to support family living, says Napier.

“The subject property has good proximity to key local amenities including Mahurangi College, Warkworth Primary School, The Grange retail and food service centre, New World and Woolworths supermarkets, and two medical centres.

“There is a park and ride facility nearby for connections to the NX2 bus to the Auckland CBD, and Warkworth is really the gateway to the coastal playgrounds of Ōmaha, Tāwharanui, and Goat Island, and the boutique Matakana Village precinct.”