The narrow lane at the centre of plush Wellington apartment showdown
Wednesday, 21 January 2026
One narrow lane could spell the end of Wellington’s first intensified housing project since major council planning changes – a 32-apartment Mount Victoria block now having its resource consent contested by neighbours.
The Mayfair apartment block in the city-fringe suburb was already controversial with film-maker Dame Gaylene Preston joining the cries against a building that would “tower over our character and heritage suburbs, blocking sun for nearby residents and doing nothing to address unaffordable housing”. Construction was meant to start halfway through 2025, but it remains in a holding pattern. The developers claim to have sold much of the block.
Neighbour Ralph Highnam confirmed he and other neighbours opposed the granting of a consent at a commissioner-led hearing in mid-December. They expect to hear the outcome in mid-February.
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The development is planned down a private road, Westbourne Grove off Austin St, half owned by developers and half owned by the remaining four properties. It is here the battle is being pitched.
“We have always been supportive of appropriate and respectful development,” Highnam said.
“We don’t believe this is appropriate or respectful.”
Developers originally planned to rip up the footpath on the narrow road to make room for more than 27,000 truck movements during two years of construction, he said. In the final moments of the hearing, he said they changed plans to keep the footpath but leaving a narrow lane for the four existing homes, plus the 29 new apartment car parks.
It was argued existing owners had a legal right to safely access their homes at any time and in any way ‒ foot or car.
The project, when announced in December 2024, was understood to be the first one filed through the council under new housing intensification rules, which allowed for demolition of heritage homes in many areas to allow multi-storey apartments. Addressing housing affordability and availability was a major driver of the changes.
But Westbourne Grove resident Kylie Woods said, with 29 car parks and a $5.1 million price tag for a “sub penthouse”, Mayfair missed the mark.
She believed the Wellington City Council had ignored its own rules on two fronts: The outdoor shared pool should have needed neighbours’ consent and the driveway should be 8.5m wide, including the footpath. When The Post measured the entrance it was 4.9m and that would mean removing two old cabbage trees.
Are the residents right to complain here or are narrow driveways just a necessary Wellington workaround? Leave a comment below.
Architectural designer Allistair Cox, another neighbour in opposition, confirmed the driveway was far too narrow to comply with council rules.
“It either complies or it doesn’t. We understand there is a level of discretion, but this is well outside discretion,” he said.
Developer Mark Quinn was approached for comment, but said it would “not be prudent of anyone making comments while the independent commissioner makes his final decision”.
He confirmed 40% of the apartments were already sold or under contract.
Flinn Clark and Daniel Dwyer from CMP Construction submitted to the hearing that “particular importance” would be placed on truck movements with deliveries held on Vivian St and only called to the site when it was ready to receive them. Other measures included trained spotters to escort trucks and hold pedestrians.
A transport assessment done for the council showed about 110 vehicle movements were expected per day with a peak average of one every three minutes.