Wellington’s inner city is about to welcome yet another retail and hospitality development to its bustling CBD.

Strategically located on Willis St, between New World Metro and Majestic Centre tower, the mixed-use development will feature ground floor retail/hospitality space, offices and apartments.

Developers are breathing life into two old and characterful buildings and demolishing other smaller buildings to create a new laneway that will connect onto the street and Civic Square beyond.

Office space is already fully let with energy grid operator Transpower and IT solutions provider Intergen both locating their head offices into the space above a new courtyard and laneway.

The complex is being developed by Cheops Holdings,  a well-known Wellington-based developer.

Cheops and its construction arm, McKee Fehl, is currently also completing space for New Zealand’s first Jamie Oliver restaurant on Lambton Quay in another of the company’s heritage buildings.

Development manager, Will Broadmore is confident of success in the new location. “Ensuring the right mix of businesses is key to this new hospitality destination,” he says. “We’ve had a tremendous amount of enquiry and our focus now is on determining which operators will add the most value to this exciting space.”

Chris Wilkinson, from First Retail Group, who has been working with the developers on tenant strategies, said the new complex provides a confident location for businesses that want to tap inner city workers, residents and tourists.

“With over 1000 workers in the offices, the commercial proposition was compelling before even considering wider audiences such as neighbouring tower blocks,” says Wilkinson. “We anticipate this will become an oasis where people will escape and gravitate to.”

Construction is already under way, with the laneway, courtyard and retail/hospitality area slated to open in early 2017.