24 WAIKATO BUSINESS NEWS <strong>January</strong>/<strong>February</strong> <strong>2017</strong> Development near airport attracts interest Waipa is fast becoming one of New Zealand’s ‘go to’ regions for commercial and industrial operators, with one rapidlygrowing development nudging Hamilton Airport a case in point. Rayne’s Precinct, on the corner of Airport and Rayne’s roads, forms part of Titanium <strong>Business</strong> Park. Owned by <strong>Waikato</strong>’s family-owned property investment company Keewee Group Ltd (KGL), the 12 ha plus block on Rayne’s Rd is already signalling success with the first two stages of its planned commercial development attracting attention. There’s a real shortage of these types of buildings in the area... The recently completed 1800m2 Stage 1 is almost fully tenanted, and even before the first sod was turned on the 1500m2 Stage 2 building just weeks ago, it was 50 percent tenanted. KGL’s commercial property manager Ray George said interest was coming from around the region. “There’s a real shortage of these types of buildings in the area,” he said, adding that interest was also being shown in bare land within the precinct. KGL purchased the site in 2009; it is zoned for industry, warehousing, manufacturing, logistics, aviation, office and retail. The company built the 15,500 square metre Torpedo7 warehouse within Rayne’s Precinct in 2013 – the largest standalone building in Waipa - and made the call soon afterwards to develop the site further. Ray said he believed the flexibility offered in the new buildings was a major plus point for prospective tenants. The buildings offer between 2000 to 20,000 square metres of lettable area, with movable walls meaning space can be adjusted to meet occupiers’ needs. “The units are advertised at 250 square metre, but we are able to move walls to accommodate the needs of particular tenants – even after the building is complete. That makes a big difference.” Waipa’s geographic advantages make it attractive for companies seeking to escape big-city problems. Just 10 minutes from Hamilton, and within an hour and a half of the ‘golden triangle’ cities of Auckland and Tauranga, the development is at the heart of an area known as the country’s growth hub, with some 50 percent of New Zealand’s population living within a 140km radius. Ray said the region’s strong roading infrastructure was an added advantage, one likely to be given a further boost when the proposed $600 million Southern Links expressway comes on stream. The move to Rayne’s Precinct has played out well for the two tenants already in situ. First in was Custom Signage Solutions Ltd, who moved from Frankton into 375m2 of Rayne’s Precinct Stage 1 on September 9. Production manager Tracey Karam said the company had been in dire need of more space in which to grow, and the Rayne’s Rd site offered flexibility. “We’ve been able to put in a purpose-built print room, which has increased our efficiency and allowed us to develop our business.” Paul Vickers, chief executive of Vickers Aircraft Company Ltd, said his company moved into its 1000m2 space at Rayne’s Rd from Te Rapa, essentially to be “in an Keewee Group Ltd commercial property manager outside Stage 1 of the new commercial development at Rayne’s Precinct. environment that not only married with our product, but one that offers a relaxed outlook coupled with a hive of aviation Rayne’s Precinct is just 2km from Hamilton Airport, making it an enticing option for commercial operations seeking to expand. activity. “Having been here for a few months, we are enjoying daily the quieter, less hustle-and-bustle atmosphere we are now surrounded with,” said Paul. The development also offers on-site parking. 10 CELEBRATING Years It’s our 10 year anniversary and one lucky winner will get a gift on us each quarter of our 10th year SIMPLY SELL YOUR PROPERTY WITH CAMBRIDGE REAL ESTATE BETWEEN JANUARY 1ST AND MARCH 31ST <strong>2017</strong> AND... BE IN TO WIN A MYSTERY WEEKEND AWAY OUR 1ST QUARTER PRIZE CALL OUR EXPERIENCED TEAM TO GET INTO THE DRAW TODAY! 07 823 1945 *T&C APPLY © Cambridge Real Estate 2007 Ltd, Licensed Real Estate Agent (REAA 2008) P: 07 823 1945 | 47 ALPHA STREET, CAMBRIDGE WWW.CAMBRIDGEREALESTATE.CO.NZ E: SALES@CAMBRIDGEREALESTATE.CO.NZ PROUD SPONSORS OF:
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