Stoke’s new $20m supermarket

MAX FRETHEY Local Democracy Reporter

Stoke’s New World supermarket is set for a major upgrade after Nelson City Council and Foodstuffs South Island agreed to a land swap which will allow for the development of a more modern store.

“I know the local community will be very, very excited about it,” says store owner Brendon Rae. “The building faces many challenges, so we’re very excited about the new build.”

A Stoke local, Brendon adds he is looking forward to being able to give back to the area.

“To come full circle and be back here and being able to provide to our local community and offer such an amazing project for the future is really positive.”

The New World will be extended north to cover the twoway Neale Ave entrance and the old Video Ezy building, while the supermarket will vacate some land in the corner of the square which will replace lost parking and open up Strawbridge Square so it will be less enclosed. The main entrance to the building will move to the south face of the store, looking out on the new car parking area and Songer St. The shift also allows the twoway entrance from Songer St to be widened and made saf- er. The one-way entry from Neale Ave into the square, by the Stoke Library, will change to exit only. No car parks will be permanently lost as a result of the project, though parking will be impacted during the build itself.

Rebecca Parish, Foodstuffs

South Island head of property strategy, says the company and council have worked collaboratively over many years to get the right design.

“It’s exciting, innovative and it’s really creative.”

Brendon adds that the store currently has an odd layout and so expanding to a larger, rectangular shape will create a more streamlined shopping experience with a larger food hall.

Mayor Nick Smith says the redevelopment is “fantastic news” for Stoke which will enable $20 million of investment into Strawbridge Square.

“This... could not come at a better time, when we’ve just had the official announcement of New Zealand being in recession. It really solidifies the Stoke shopping centre as a community centre for the 22,000 people that are here.”

The construction of the new supermarket is expected to begin early next year and will create about 20 new jobs at the New World.

The work will be conducted in three phases over two years, allowing shoppers to continue to use the supermarket, and will include a $600,000 upgrade of the stormwater infrastructure at the southern end of the square to fix “longstanding” flooding problems.