Can you imagine an urban village rising from what was once Unitec land? That’s the vision for the Carrington Residential Development. It is a project transforming 39.7 hectares in Mt Albert next to the Unitec campus.
This isn’t just another housing project. The Carrington Residential Development is led by the three Tāmaki Makaurau rōpū of Marutūāhu, Ngāti Whātua, and Waiohua-Tāmaki. They are working with the Crown via Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga. That is the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
Treaty redress arrangements give these rōpū the chance to lead the project. They handle detailed master planning and the delivery of new homes. The high-level master planning is complete.
Auckland Council is updating the Wairaka Precinct provisions for the Carrington Residential Development project. The development size means it will take around 15 years to complete. The Government is looking at ways to speed this up.
Infrastructure upgrades are already underway at Carrington Residential Development. These include improvements to roads, stormwater, wastewater, and utilities. New roads will follow the existing road alignments. They will have better pedestrian and cycling routes. Housing development is expected to start in the second half of 2023.
The Carrington Residential Development site can support at least 4,000 homes. These will be medium to high-density. The homes will include market, KiwiBuild, and affordable options. There will also be rentals, progressive home ownership, and public housing. You can expect to see a mix of terraced houses, walk-up units, and apartments.
This density is supported by the Auckland Unitary Plan. It is due to the site’s location and access to transport and amenities. The development will invest in public and open spaces. These areas are for recreation and play. Connections will improve through the site to Te Auaunga or Oakley Creek. The Wairaka Stream will be revitalized. Heritage buildings like the former Carrington Hospital will be adapted for reuse. A new primary school is also planned.
About one car park per dwelling is planned initially. The project average is expected to be closer to 0.7 car parks per dwelling. The need for car parking should reduce as alternative transport modes improve. The government has invested $113 million in the Carrington Road upgrade. This aims to improve public transport and cycling.
The site has access to public transport and cycling networks. It is within walking distance of Mt Albert and Baldwin Avenue Train Stations. These benefit from the City Rail Link upgrades. There are also regular bus services and direct access to the North-Western Cycleway.
Carrington Hospital is a Category 1 Historic Place. It will be adapted for reuse. The Pumphouse at the center of the site will also be reused. Other buildings will be assessed as master planning progresses.
The Carrington Residential Development site will have a network of high-quality open space. Extensive native plantings will expand the habitat of Te Auaunga or Oakley Creek. Stormwater management will use “green” infrastructure. This includes swales, planted channels, and daylighting the Wairaka Stream.
During early works, twelve archaeological features were recorded. These included a shell midden and fire features. Seven historic features were also found. These included a brick drain and a stone-lined drain.
So, as you can see, the Carrington Residential Development isn’t just building houses. It’s creating a community. It is respecting the land’s history, and enhancing the environment. It’s a place where people can live, work, and play.