The Northlink retail development on Langdons Road in Papanui first opened in November 2018, and anchor tenant Kmart has been open since May 2020 – so what’s happening with the yet-unbuilt third block at the back of the site, and when will we see traffic lights at the increasingly-busy Greers Road / Langdons Road intersection?
Background
The resource consent for the second stage of the Northlink development encompasses what are referred to as Block A and Block B (which together form the building housing Kmart, Torpedo7, Bargain Chemist, and more) and Block C (not yet built, positioned at the back of the site). See the plan below:
A condition of the resource consent was that Block C cannot be used “…until a contract has been let for the signalisation of the intersection of Langdons Road and Greers Road”.
Following the granting of this consent in 2019 Blocks A & B have been built and opened, but I’m hearing questions from the community about Block C and the promised signalisation of the Greers/Langdons intersection.
Resource consent amendment
In August 2022 an application for a variation to the resource consent conditions was submitted to the Council. The changes requested were a deletion of the ‘traffic light’ condition, and also amendments to floor areas and elevations.
Decision: traffic lights not required
The report on the variation notes that there is Council funding for traffic lights at the Greers/Langdons intersection (more on that below), and that evidence showed that the current Northlink retail area is mostly generating additional traffic to the east of the site (to/from the Northlands end of Langdons Road) – “Comparatively few vehicle movements are through the Greers / Langdons intersection or through Morrison Avenue.“
The Council planner concludes that analysis since Blocks A and B became operational has shown that the effects on the Greers/Langdons intersection and Morrison Ave are at an acceptable level, and that “…the adverse effects on people and the environment related to removing the condition 4 are less than minor.“
The application for the changes to the resource conditions was granted in September 2022.
The granting of the application means changes to the consent conditions, including deletion of condition 4:
So what happens now?
Will Block C now be built? Residents report some activity in recent times, but work is not currently proceeding at pace. As is noted in the decision above, the resource consent is set to lapse in May 2024, however the consent holder could request a time extension.
When will we see the lights?
Will traffic lights be installed at the Greers/Langdons intersection? That is the Council’s plan – although I suggest guarded optimism, as plans can always change, and projects in the Council’s capital programme can be rescheduled or reprioritised.
As you will see in the image below, there is $100,000 set aside in the 2023/24 financial year, and another $1,600,000 over the following two years, for signalisation of the intersection. That timing suggests construction is currently planned for approximately calendar 2025. Given the timelines associated with planning, consulting, designing, consenting, and contracting a project, that is about as fast as we might realistically hope for.
For more information
Read or download the full report on the change of conditions (PDF, 735KB):
Question for readers
What is your experience of traffic in the area – at the Greers/Langdons intersection, but also in Morrison Ave and on Langdons Road towards Northlands?
Simon Britten 