Freemans Bay residents oppose Ockham’s plans for The Kubrick, 9-level purple apartment block

Freemans Bay residents want Ockham Residential to reduce the height and size of a planned nine-level purple apartment block called The Kubrick.

A group, Scale Back 8 Pratt St, says more than 750 locals from nearly 300 households support their attempts to reduce the scale of the consented development between Pratt St and Anglesea St.

Ockham plans to demolish three-level townhouses to build the 76-unit block at 8 Pratt St and 54 Anglesea St, having won non-notified consent last July.

The block is to be named after Hollywood’s Stanley Kubrick and the developer this month launched a marketing campaign.

Ockham has told prospective buyers it now plans to seek building consent.

“We are busy working on the building consent that will be lodged in the next two months,” it said.

But opponents are adamant The Kubrick should not be as tall and big as what Ockham has been granted consent to build.

“Time, feedback and energy show how deeply this community cares, not just about the specific impacts of this non-complying development, but also the dangerous precedent it sets for future projects across our neighbourhood,” opponents said.

“Now is the moment to flood their inboxes while they’re listening,” the group said in July, before October’s council and local board elections.

The group said it had strong engagement with councillors and Auckland Council “and they’ve heard our objections”.

But nine storeys may not be the worst of it.

“Things have recently been overshadowed by proposed Auckland-wide plan changes which allow for buildings up to 50m [15 storeys] across the city,” they noted last month.

Under the new plan, 8 Pratt St is one of the locations that could be 15 storeys, they said.

“While we do not know the developer’s intentions with 8 Pratt Street, nor is it certain that these suburb-wide zoning changes will go ahead, if we don’t speak up now this becomes a risk,” the group said.

They noted public consultation on the proposed Plan Change 120 starting this month.

Ockham’s assessment of the environmental effects of The Kubrick sought for it to be approved without anyone having input.

“The proposed development will provide for 76 residential apartments in a high-quality multi-storey building. This assessment of environmental effects, taking into account the various specialist inputs, concludes that the proposed development aligns with the relevant Auckland Unitary Plan Operative in Part provisions,” it said.

Overall the project would not give rise to any adverse environmental effects that are more than minor, thus enabling Auckland Council to grant consent on a non-notified basis, the assessment said.

Ockham has been fronted for many years by Mark Todd but in 2023, Will Deihl was appointed chief executive.

In September, Deihl spoke at the opening of two buildings: Whetū and Toi in Pt Chevalier.

Both buildings were developed by the Marutūāhu-Ockham Partnership.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop opened Toi in September with Mayor Wayne Brown.

But the market is so bad that all units in one of those blocks are being rented: the 10-level 77-unit Whetū.

Only 24 of 65 units in Toi had sold by opening day.

In Freemans Bay, the site is a quarter of a hectare at 2689sq m, with the main portion of it rectangular-shaped.

Property records show units there now owned by Periwinkle Partnership.

Ockham’s application said the property was owned by Mark James Todd (by agreement), indicating Ockham had not yet settled the purchase of the land or buildings.

“Mark James Todd is ‘the owner’ of the site via an agreement for sale and purchase with the currently listed proprietor; the certificates of title are attached,” the document said.

Feedback from the Auckland Urban Design Panel had also informed the design, Ockham application’s assessment said.

The building is to be predominantly clad in brick veneer with glass balustrades, timber decking and metallic colours and patterned fascia.

The brick will be “custom-made glazed in blue, purple colours and tones, transitioning in a gradient around the building façade and introducing vibrant colours in a residential aesthetic, warm, welcoming and complementary to the surrounding residential context”, the application said.

Ockham is marketing The Kubrick as “never to be built out”. “It is bordered only by the Harry Dansey Reserve to the north and west, the Freemans Bay Community Centre, Anglesea Street, and Pratt Street. Surrounded by mature trees lining the streets and reserve. We were even considering naming our building New Titirangi,” it said.

Why Kubrick?

“Named for Stanley Kubrick, the visionary film-maker who reshaped modern cinema, The Kubrick carries that same spirit of precision, detail, and daring use of colour,” Ockham says.

Ockham’s Will Deihl said the development won consent last July.

It complies with the Unitary Plan and is, overall, a restricted discretionary activity.

“Anyone who is concerned about new taller buildings in Freemans Bay or many other locations should consider submitting evidence for the public hearing of the proposed Unitary Plan change 120, which would raise the maximum height to 50m through large areas of Freemans Bay and many other high-amenity central city suburbs,” Deihl said.

If it builds The Kubrick, it will be Ockham’s 22nd building.

Projects are:

Anne Gibson has been the Herald‘s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.