News

Wigram Business Park attracts high profile names

One of the longest standing printing businesses in Christchurch, The Caxton Press, will shift from the city to a new site at Ngāi Tahu Property-owned Wigram Business Park, south-west of the city.

Caxton has bought a 3200m² sunny corner site in the business park and plans to be in residence by this time next year.

Zoned Business 4, Wigram Business Park comprises nearly 25ha. The first phase of the staged development, which has no building ties to Ngāi Tahu Property, covers 11.6ha made up of 17 lots. Site works are 75% completed and many of the sites in stage one have been snapped up.

Ben Dwan, a specialist industrial broker at Colliers International, who is marketing the project with Bob Davison of Cook Commercial, said the scarcity of freehold light industrial land had fuelled strong demand from businesses needing to relocate. Prices have ranged from $230/m² for larger sites of 16,557m² to $300/m² for smaller parcels of 2832m².

“An added benefit is that businesses are enjoying the prospect of swapping concrete and asphalt of their current sites for a greener landscaped environment.”

Caxton’s current Victoria Street premises were severely damaged by the earthquakes, and its landmark building from the 1880s was bulldozed in January 2011. Operations have since been conducted from the constraints of the remaining building and last September the decision was made to move out and find a new location.

Managing director Bruce Bascand said the 77-year-old company wanted to own, not lease, a cost effective site with undamaged land.

“The corner section at Wigram is three times the size of what we’re currently on, with room to create a really good working environment, and is great because it’s on shingle.”

The likely building would be single storey with a two-storey component on the front for sales staff and a boardroom with space for an archive and library. There would be room to expand and future proof the business, and paper would be stored on site.

A coincidental highlight for Bascand is the return to Christchurch of son Dave, 28, to be part of the rebuild for Caxton and the city. The fifth generation of Bascands in the business, he has been named a new director.

Caxton is among several long-established Christchurch businesses, forced to relocate after earthquake damage, who are making their new home at Wigram Business Park.

Among the others are Harrington’s Breweries and SEW-EURODRIVE.

Harrington’s Breweries, which has already had one of its two breweries demolished, has bought a 16,500m² block at Wigram Business Park where it will build a 1500m² brewhouse, canning and bottling plant, together with a 2000m² warehouse. An on-licence and off-licence are in the offing for future development. Carl Harrington said the shift would mean little interruption for Harrington’s brewing operations whereas a repair of its current Ferry Rd premises would mean at least eight months on hold.

John Hainsworth of drive technology company SEW-EURODRIVE, which has been based in Ferrymead for the past 15 years, was concerned about the future viability of rebuilding. “There was a lot of liquefaction in this area - the cost and sustainability of rebuilding here had big question marks over it for us. We liked Wigram Business Park because it is centrally located for our business portfolio and customers, we wanted an upmarket look in a new industrial subdivision and the land costs and availability met our requirements.”

SEW-EURODRIVE, which will build 1485m² on 4047m², hopes to lodge plans by the end of April and be in the new premises by year end.

Mike Davison, development manager for Ngāi Tahu Property, said established Christchurch businesses seeking a new location liked the flexibility of Wigram Business Park for different uses and operators.

Wigram Business Park fills void of vacant industrial land

A large offering of prime industrial freehold sites, on the former Wigram Aerodrome in Christchurch will be welcome news to businesses looking for bare land to build new premises.

The Ngāi Tahu Property-owned Wigram Business Park, zoned Business 4, comprises nearly 25ha. The first phase of the staged development, which has no building ties to Ngāi Tahu, covers 11.6ha made up of 17 lots. Business 4 provides for light industry, warehousing and service industries, and some commercial activities such as offices.

Mike Davison, development manager for Ngāi Tahu Property, said the B4 zoning was hugely beneficial for potential buyers.

A winning business location

You now have the opportunity to purchase freehold industrial land in a brand new subdivision, once home to New Zealand’s premier motor race, the Lady Wigram Trophy.

17 Business 4 sections are now available for purchase in Wigram Business Park, Hayton Road, Christchurch. No development ties are present so this is an ideal opportunity for owner occupiers, investors and developers.

The entire site has been checked and geotechnical reports show that this land is ready to go.