Thirty-nine hectares on the western side of Mosgiel near Wal’s Plant Land could become about 500 lots — potentially resulting in a mix of apartments, pensioner flats and stand-alone homes with sections — if the development proceeds smoothly from here.
The land was rezoned to allow for residential housing after an appeal by Daisy Link Garden Centres concerning the Dunedin City Council’s second-generation district plan was resolved.
A consent order was issued by the Environment Court in March directing the council to amend planning maps and provisions.
Landowners Clive and Linda Wallis are almost ready to hand over the project to Dunedin-raised developer Lane Hocking, from Universal Developments.
The couple own Wal’s Plant Land, which is not part of the land parcel planned for development.
Getting to this point has involved eight years of planning, meetings with lawyers and interaction with the city council and Otago Regional Council.
"It’s been a very long journey," Mrs Wallis said.
"Finally, we’ve had the big tick."
Mr Wallis said some adjustments to the concept were needed because of inadequate infrastructure in the ar
The project was now at an exciting stage, he said.
Dunedin needed to accommodate housing growth and Mosgiel would benefit from the proposed development, he said.
The couple are also behind an 18-hole mini-golf course in the area, a driving range and miniature train rides.
Mrs Wallis said they had often been asked about developing the land.
Indeed, when it was marked out for ploughing competitions in the past, people thought surveying was under way.
Mr and Mrs Wallis plan to sell the land.
Further planning and applying for the right to subdivide will be among the work still needed for the proposed development to proceed.
Mr Hocking said he envisaged a mix of housing styles in the portion of Daisy Link Garden Centres land and said there could be scope for a medical centre and early childhood education centre at the site.
"We see Mosgiel as a very desirable place to live," Mr Hocking said.
"We’re excited about this opportunity and we look forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting into the planning for it."
It was a large piece of land that had been rezoned, he said.
"We will develop it in a careful, considered fashion."
