An artist’s impression of the proposed building and the entrance to the Aotea Station at the corner of Wellesley St and Mayoral Drive (left). And the site as it looks now prior to the works (right).

Auckland Council development agency Panuku is looking for a development partner to build a 24-storey tower block above the Aotea Station, which is currently under construction.

The 41,000 sq metre property will be built directly above the train station's main entrance at the corner of Wellesley Street and Mayoral Drive and will also take up an adjoining site at 4-10 Mayoral Drive. The council gave the green light in 2018 to sell the property which is currently used as a carpark.

But Panuku media manager Joanna Glasswell said there was a lot of groundwork that would need to be done before construction started, including finding a suitable buyer and developer.

"Panuku, on behalf of Auckland Council, is leading a market process to find a development partner to develop the Mayoral Drive site once the CRL works at this location are completed. This process is currently underway," she said. "We are currently evaluating the proposals we've received through the expressions of interest process for the Mayoral Drive site, and we hope to select a proposed development partner by mid year."

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According to Panuku the site will be sold under a development agreement to ensure the construction is in keeping with the wider precinct, which includes the Aotea Station entrance and Bledisloe House. But Glasswell said it was too early to talk about the cost of the building and more detailed design features.

Auckland Transport was granted a non-notified resource consent in 2016 to build a 24-storey building on the site which would include offices, retail and beverage outlets and a public plaza.

City Rail Link The latest video from City Rail Link showing the proposed design features of the Aotea Station.

"While a resource consent for a proposed development has been granted, any development would be subject to the CRL construction being completed and when a prospective development partner would like to commence works," Glasswell said.

Panuku had been working with Price Waterhouse Cooper on the sale of the property which was valued at $28 million in 2017.

When it is completed in 2024 the City Rail Link's underground Aotea Station will be the busiest train station in the country and will be expected to cope with 54,000 passengers an hour at peak times.

The CRL is a 3.45km twin-tunnel underground rail link up to 42 metres below the Auckland city centre. It will run from Britomart, up Albert Street and onto Karangahape Rd before going under the motorway and linking up with the existing western line at Mt Eden. The project will include the underground Aotea and Karangahape stations and is expected to double Auckland's rail capacity.