Hamilton’s new Peacocke suburb will start taking shape in 2024 with the city’s newest bridge over the Waikato River set to open, providing a critical link into the 8100-house development.
CKL who has been working on the Aurora development and Broadwater Retirement Village plans, situated in the Peacocke area, say the completion of the city’s newest bridge over the Waikato River will send a clear message that Peacocke is open for business.
“Hamilton is on the cusp of a transformation with the Peacocke growth cell. It’s a significant stride in the city's expansion plans,” says CKL Director Bevan Houlbrooke.
Hamilton is on track to overtake Wellington as the country’s third most populous city before 2050 and the city’s population is set to grow 33.6% from 179,900 last year to 240,350 in 2048.
“There is significant growth forecast for Hamilton, and we need to be able to build houses to service that population. The Peacocke subdivision is a significant piece of that puzzle,” says Bevan.
The Peacocke development was initially supported by a $290 million Government funding injection from the Housing Infrastructure Fund which facilitated the bridge build and launch of the Southern Links project and supporting infrastructure. The Hamilton City Council's Plan Change 5 to the District Plan then enabled a new structure plan, supporting medium density housing development in the area and unlocking the development.
Detailed design work, consents, land acquisition and construction is now underway for infrastructure, including a portion of the Southern Links network, connecting the southern side of the city.
CKL has been working on the Aurora subdivision, currently in the design and construction phase, t and the Broadwater Retirement Village encompassing 235 units, a care centre, and apartment buildings. They are also involved in supporting landowners through land acquisition for the Southern Links roading network in the area.
Bevan says the Peacocke development represents a modern approach to neighborhood development and planning provisions with medium density housing, green spaces and ecological restoration along the Waikato River and in the area’s gullies.
“It is a forward-thinking approach to urban growth. Ecological considerations have heavily influenced the development, with a focus on connectivity, green spaces, and preservation of the area’s gullies - a crucial habitat for Pekapeka, our endangered long tail bats,” says Bevan.
“It’s an exciting development for Hamilton but the real advantage is its proximity to the city centre. When the new bridge opens next year people will get a real sense of just how close it is to the city centre and what the new riverside suburb offers,” says Bevan.
