Plans to redevelop a significant portion of Devonport’s waterfront are advancing, with a fast-track consent application recently submitted to Crown authorities. The project, led by Peninsula Capital and associated with businessman Berridge Spencer and former bankers Mark Hiddleston and Graham Turley, proposes a mixed-use development integrating heritage restoration with new construction.
The redevelopment covers nearly a city block bordered by Victoria Road, Wynyard Street, and Clarence Street. It involves restoring and strengthening Edwardian and Victorian heritage buildings while constructing five new structures rising up to eight stories high. The design envisions six additional storeys atop two-level heritage buildings, with the overall plan aiming to preserve the character of the historic district.
The master plan outlines approximately 80 to 90 residential apartments and a boutique hotel consisting of 46 to 50 rooms. Commercial and retail spaces would occupy close to 5,400 square meters, with a further 2,300 square meters dedicated to adaptively reused heritage buildings. Parking provisions are flexible, with plans for between 80 and 200 vehicle spaces pending geotechnical assessments.
Plans also include demolishing unsympathetic additions to heritage sites on Wynyard Street and removing the more recent ex-Auckland Savings Bank building, to be replaced by a new entrance structure replicating the former building’s design. The proposal emphasizes opening laneways and through-site links leading into a central courtyard, to enhance public accessibility and engage more actively with the heritage assets.
Mark Hiddleston, speaking about the project, described the redevelopment as potentially transformative for both Devonport and the wider Auckland area. He noted the significance of treating heritage buildings as functional, living parts of the community rather than mere decorative features. The restoration would allow public interaction with previously hidden parts of the heritage architecture, thus revitalizing the village atmosphere.
The design work was shaped by the late architect Pip Cheshire, with his practice now led by his son Nat Cheshire. The development group acquired additional properties from the late Jack Scott in recent years, expanding their footprint and enabling a more cohesive approach to the village’s renewal.
This application follows an earlier proposal submitted in January 2022, which was not included in that year’s fast-track consenting process due to readiness concerns. The developers are currently in the referral stage and expect it may take another 18 months to complete the full consent process if approved. The project is privately funded, requiring no public money, and does not include ownership of the nearby Esplanade Hotel.
The redevelopment initiative responds to Devonport’s status as one of the few Auckland town centres lacking significant intensification, aiming to balance growth with preservation in a sensitive urban environment.