NZX-listed property investor, the Stride Property Group, has sought resource consent to upgrade the Johnsonville Shopping Centre in Wellington’s northern suburbs.

The $150 million proposed redevelopment, which features 120 retail facilities, a cinema, and a 900-car parking area, was welcomed by Ohariu MP Peter Dunne.

Dunne said northern suburbs residents who had almost given up on the shopping centre being redeveloped will be absolutely delighted.

“People have been constantly asking me about it for years now, and have been becoming more and more frustrated,” Dunne said.

“I am sure they will welcome this great news.”

According to Dunne, a revitalised shopping centre “will add so much to the rapidly growing northern suburbs, and residents will be very keen to see the project proceed as quickly as possible”.

Consent was granted to the mall owner in 2009 to expand the shopping centre to 32,000sqm from 10,000sqm, but no work has been carried out with the upgrade stymied by the global financial crisis.

The new proposals would see it increase in size to 26,000sqm.

Peter Alexander, Stride chief executive, said in a statement that the plans reflected the changing needs of the area and wider catchment area, “We have reduced the overall scale of the project and the mix of retail uses.”

“We have proposed a dining precinct, which we believe could become a destination in itself, and provided space for a boutique cinema within the complex,” he added.

It was reported earlier this year that half a dozen retailers had left the mall in the past two years.

It’s thought construction on the upgrade of the shopping centre could start between late 2017 and late 2018.