Pick of the crop in Hawke's Bay

One of the last large landholdings ripe for subdivision and development in a fast-growing Hastings residential suburb is for sale with a myriad of options for new owners.

The more than 1.6 hectares of flat freehold land in the northern Hastings suburb of Frimley sits just off the Napier-Hastings Expressway, in an area which has seen extensive subdivision and new housing.

Now offered for sale with vacant possession, the site on arterial Omahu Road is seen as having exceptional potential for medium to high-density housing, or other development subject to necessary approvals.

A substantial existing accommodation complex for Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers offers new owners the ability to earn a significant income in the short or long term.

The property at 811 Omahu Road, Frimley, Hastings, is being offered for sale by way of a tender closing on Thursday 12 March, through Kerry Geange and Matt Webb of Bayleys Hawke's Bay.

Geange said the scale, level contour and regular shape of the landholding, along with its existing improvements and development-friendly zoning, spelt flexibility for a wide range of outcomes.

"This versatility, combined with strong long-term regional growth fundamentals and proximity to key transport routes, underpins a compelling opportunity to unlock value over time in one of Hawke's Bay's most strategic corridors."

The breadth of options meant the site would appeal widely to investors, developers and owner-occupiers seeking a future-focused asset, Geange said.

The land for sale sits within Hastings General Residential zone, partly in the Lyndhurst Development Area which supports structured development consistent with established neighbouring subdivision.

Just a few minutes from Hastings city centre and Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital, the attraction of this location as a place to live is undeniable underpinning its credentials for a residential project to complement surrounding development, Geange said.

The bulk of the site outside the Lyndhurst Development Area could be developed for a variety of uses including housing, visitor accommodation, aged care or day care facilities.

"The land for sale benefits from a position overlooking picturesque Stoneycroft Reserve in an area of quality new and recent-build housing, strong community amenities and convenient access across the wider Bay region via the Napier-Hastings Expressway," Geange said.

Frimley has fast become a popular location for new and near-new home buyers due to its convenience, quality of homes, and nearby amenities, including schools, retail, trade, employment, and recreational/sports facilities.

The area was added to the Hastings city boundary in the 1950s to address a land shortage. Ongoing residential development has seen accelerating growth in recent years. Frimley s population swelled by 27 percent to nearly 3,650 in the five years to the 2023 census, and by nearly 50 percent in the decade from 2013.

Webb said the extensive, well-presented seasonal worker accommodation on the Omahu Road site provided a unique dimension.

"Offered with vacant possession at settlement, but consented and used most recently for RSE accommodation, the potential to generate a holding or long-term income perhaps while advancing plans for subdivision or development should not be discounted," Webb said.

The approximately 1,242-square-metre complex encompasses 51 dormitory and unit-style bedrooms, plus communal kitchen and bathroom facilities, across multiple buildings. This has housed up to 110 seasonal workers. Resource consent is in place for a new owner to accommodate up to 150.

Webb said the site was well located to serve flourishing local fruit-growing industries.

"Hawke's Bay's fruit and wine growers draw heavily on the RSE scheme, which enables them to bring seasonal workers in from overseas when there are not enough local workers available," he said.

Booming demand has seen the national cap on RSE workers soar to around 20,000 a year, from 5,000 at the scheme s inception in 2007. The Government has a stated goal to double the cap to 38,000 in coming years to meet industry demand.

"This, in turn, drives a strong and growing local demand for RSE worker accommodation in Hastings, which has long been known as the fruit bowl of New Zealand," Webb said.

- Supplied by Bayleys