Franklin Village takes shape

Work is ramping up to provide new independent living options in Pukekohe.

The Franklin Village project on McNally Road in Pukekohe will be made up of 132 villas across several stages, along with a large lodge to serve as a hub for its residents.

Oceania chief property officer Andrew Buckingham said Franklin Village offered the future of retirement living, with thoughtful design that seeks to combine style, comfort and community.

The villas are passive homes, designed with very low energy consumption in mind. Retirees on fixed incomes would benefit from lower energy costs, he said.

“This is the first, big integrated greenfield development that Oceania has done. We’ve taken a very big sustainable angle, building our villas to Homestar 7 version 5 … and seeking a 5 Greenstar rating for our community buildings like our lodge and [new] care building.”

The New Zealand Green Building Council offers sustainability certification for new home design and construction called Homestar.

The lodge is targeting a Greenstar 5 rating, and the hope is that the village will gain Greenstar Communities certification: a leading sustainability standard that evaluates everything from community connection to energy use, transport, and long-term environmental impact.

Oceania aims to offer country-club style amenities to connect with the Franklin Village community. The lodge building will include a pool and spa, cafe/restaurant, bar and snooker room, and lounge areas. There will also be a bowling green outside and a wellness clinic.

Buckingham said they aim to have the lodge open when the first residents move in early next year.

“We have an existing 44-bed care home on the site next door. That’s been part of the community for a very long time. We will do future care on the site, with 60 care beds and 20 dementia, that’s where the thinking is presently.”

As for the roadworks outside the development on Puni Road, Auckland Transport said work
started in late June and is set to roll through until mid-December.

Buckingham said the work included a new footpath, street lighting, stormwater, potable water reticulation, and laying a Chorus fibre cable. Similar works had been carried out on McNally Road, with some more footpath work to be done.