Chews Lane Sale & Development

Heritage building on Victoria Street

In 2004 Wellington City Council sold the Chews Lane precinct by way of a 250 year lease to Willis Bond & Co Ltd. The precinct comprises nine commercial buildings between Victoria and Willis Streets and is intersected by Chews Lane.

Mixed-use Development

The mixed-use development offers Wellington an architecturally exciting solution that will include retail, food outlets, offices and 90 apartments designed to suit a wide range of budgets.

Details of the redevelopment include:

• A new building on the Zeal site.
• A maximum building height that is well within the 90 metre District Plan height limit for the site.
• Retention of all but one of the heritage buildings (37-43 Willis Street).
• Retention of the Victoria Arcade link between Willis and Victoria Streets.

Development Team

Mark McGuinness, a Director of Willis Bond & Co Ltd, is leading the development team. The architect for the project is Ian Athfield.

Community Tenants

An important issue at the time of the Chews Lane sale was relocating the community tenants in the buildings.

The Council has relocated the following community tenants into privately owned accommodation:

• Wellington Volunteer Centre
• Wellington Community Law Centre
• Wellington Mental Health Consumers Union
• Vincent's Art Workshop
• Women's Centre
• Mokai Kaianga

Two groups, Pacific Islands Community Arts and Cultural Centre and ALAY Centre for Refugees and Migrants, went into recess prior to relocation.

More Information

Team Leader Commercial Property

Related Links

• Urban Design Brief (20Kb PDF)

Department Details:
Project Office