Newmarket shopping precinct opens

August 16, 2006

Newmarket shopping precinct opens

A new high street opens in Auckland tomorrow (17 August).

The new $25 million Nuffield Street retail precinct in Newmarket is now replete with design-driven stores selling quality fashion brands, upmarket food and trendy homewares.

Nuffield Street is owned and managed by shopping centre operator Westfield New Zealand. The street runs parallel to Broadway off Remuera Road and is known for the landmark Power Board building on the corner.

Nuffield Street will be a shopper’s nirvana. Of the 29 new stores in the precinct, 10 are completely new to New Zealand and only two tenants already have stores in Westfield centres.

Westfield deputy director Justin Lynch says the project is a result of intense consultation and collaboration with a diverse group of stakeholders, such as representatives of Newmarket retailers and residents, the Historic Places Trust and Auckland City Council.

“We are a provider of shopping venues for local communities and we strive to provide the appropriate retail venue for the location and community it is in,” Mr Lynch says.

“Nuffield Street is a prominent asset in our portfolio and we were keen for this development to be a regeneration of the existing properties.

The buildings in Nuffield Street – and the power board one in particular – are well known to Aucklanders and we have made considerable effort to regenerate them. This project is complementary to our existing shopping centre at Two Double Seven,” Mr Lynch says.

Nuffield Street is unique as far as most retail projects go with shops redeveloped on both sides of the street and owned by a single landlord in what was previously a light industrial and commercial area.

The project involved refurbishing a row of light industrial premises and commercial space to provide a street up with the latest international trends. The location, the uniqueness of the street and complementary mix of stores, have been key factors in attracting new retailers from Australia, the UK and the US.

Dedicated fashionistas are calling Nuffield Street Auckland’s answer to Melbourne’s famous, fashion destination Chapel Street, the place to shop and be seen doing so. Trelise Copper describes Nuffield Street as the Paris of New Zealand.

The commercial space has proved popular too.

Bulk water supply company Watercare – an environmentally conscious business – is moving its head office into the regenerated and historic former Power Board building.

Joining Watercare in the premises on the Remuera Rd corner are Sony BMG and Sony Computer Entertainment. And The Newmarket Business Association is taking regenerated space in Balm Street.

“The Power Board building is a landmark, if a quirky one, and has a wonderful heritage so being able to retain and regenerate it for future generations has been extremely satisfying for us,” says Westfield deputy director Justin Lynch.

Completing the project is a multi-storey car park comprising some 300 car park bays behind the Power Board building façade.

Auckland City is partnering with Westfield in improving the Nuffield Street streetscape – the road has been resurfaced and new lighting in keeping with the street’s new style will be installed.

“We’re extremely proud of Nuffield Street,” Mr Lynch says. “It brings a new and complementary dimension to Auckland retail. We believe it’s going to be very, very popular.”

Nuffield Street is proudly owned and managed by Westfield.

ENDS

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