17 April 2012

Development Group brings experience and expertise to
Glen Innes redevelopment

A group of three experienced development companies have joined forces as the preferred partner for Housing New Zealand’s redevelopment in northern Glen Innes.

“We are pleased to announce that Creating Communities has been selected as the preferred partner on this exciting and innovative project,” says Sean Bignell, General Manager Asset Development, Housing New Zealand.

“Creating Communities was selected through a formal process, and demonstrated the skills, experience and enthusiasm required. They bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the project, which is aimed at increasing and improving housing in Glen Innes over the next three to five years.”

“Creating Communities has the range of skills required to make the vision for the project come to life. We are looking forward to working with them over the next six months during the detailed planning stage of the project.”

Creating Communities is a development entity formed to capture and focus the specialist skills of Arrow International, Hopper Developments and Southside Group.

Creating Communities representative Murdoch Dryden, a Director of Creating Communities, says “Creating Communities is excited about the opportunity to partner in Glen Innes’s future. We appreciate that Glen Innes is a proud and diverse community. We see ourselves as a catalyst, working alongside the community and other local stakeholders, to help them to achieve their aspirations.”

Mr Bignell says Housing New Zealand is using a robust and thorough selection process to ensure the best development partner is appointed. The process has three stages:
• Stage one: invite interest from parties, and short-list groups to submit development proposals
• Stage two: select preferred partner and develop detailed redevelopment plans
• Stage three: confirm development partner and begin physical redevelopment work.

Housing New Zealand and Creating Communities will work closely together over the next six months to begin detailed redevelopment planning for northern Glen Innes. Subject to concluding mutually acceptable commercial and legal arrangements, the development work will be able to get underway late this year or early next year.

Housing New Zealand remains committed to keeping tenants and the local community fully informed.

“There is still a lot of work to do before construction work begins, and in the meantime tenants can remain living in their homes. At the implementation stage, tenants who have to relocate will be given plenty of notice and support,” says Mr Bignell.

ENDS
Background information
The northern Glen Innes redevelopment project proposes the redevelopment of 156 properties to create at least 260 new homes, including:
• 78 that Housing New Zealand will own
• at least 39 other affordable homes (possibly owned or managed through other social or community housing providers)
• the remainder for private sale.
The redevelopment will increase the number of houses in Glen Innes, including options to rent from community based organisations, home ownership opportunities, and private sector rentals. It will provide better quality state housing that meets the needs of the families Housing New Zealand houses. The project also involves modernising another 40 state houses in northern Glen Innes.
Creating Communities
Creating Communities is owned equally by three shareholder partners being Arrow International, Hopper Developments and Southside Group.

Arrow International:

Arrow International is a project delivery company that plans, manages and builds capital works projects. Established in Dunedin in 1984, Arrow now has 10 offices throughout New Zealand together with a construction company based in Melbourne, Australia, and also undertakes projects throughout the Pacific. Arrow International is one of the country’s largest construction companies and has been involved in undertaking the planning, management and construction of a diverse range of residential, commercial and industrial projects. Arrow International’s interest in Creating Communities Limited is held via its wholly owned development subsidiary Arcus Developments Limited.

Hopper Developments:

Formed in 1953 Hopper Developments is a privately owned land development company based in Orewa, just north of Auckland. While primarily a land development company, Hoppers has diversified into housing construction, retirement village development, civil construction and infrastructure financing and management. The company is well known for its expertise in creating coastal lifestyle developments.

Southside Group:

Southside Group is an Auckland based development and property management group which commenced business in the late 1980s. Southside’s original business was the development of small residential housing projects and it currently undertakes significant commercial, industrial, multi-story apartment and residential developments in the greater Auckland area. Recent residential projects undertaken by Southside and its partners include Baverstock Park and Eastpark Village, both of which are located in South Auckland.
Southside have partnered with Dryden Property Ltd, an East Auckland property development and investment business, to deliver this project. Dryden Family businesses have a long association with Glen Innes. Murdoch Dryden, the owner of Dryden Property, is currently Chairman of the Glen Innes Business Association.
Southside Group’s interest in Creating Communities Limited is held via Glen Brae Holdings Limited.

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