The first tenant to sign up was The Warehouse which committed to a massive 30,000m2 building for its new South Island distribution centre
Izone has been structured to combine the skills and resources of the public and private sectors.
The outcome is a commercially driven project backed with the financial strengths of a progressive and forward thinking local body.
Izone operates under a board type structure with an appointed Izone project team comprising of five independent people who bring specialised skills to the table.
Selwyn District Council (SDC) owns the land and funds the development of Izone. The fastest growing district in New Zealand (BERL), at last census Selwyn had a population of approximately 35,000 and is now approaching 40,000.
SDC has net assets of $827m (SDC Annual Report 2009/2010). Its strong balance sheet has allowed SDC to invest in the design and build of a number of buildings in Izone including PGG Wrightson Seeds, Café Izone and The Warehouse, which it later sold.
R D Hughes Developments Limited (RDH) has a seven-year history with the project and is contracted to perform in the capacity of CEO. RDH is therefore the commercial face for the project and is responsible for the day to day management, including sales and marketing, site development, and strategic planning.
RDH is a privately owned development company that has been established for in excess of 20 years. It is highly regarded for its skills in up-zoning land and innovative business practices, particularly the use of integrated master planning and creative marketing. Projects undertaken by RDH include the Northwood residential development, the Ocean Ridge development at Kaikoura, facilities for Farmers in Christchurch and Dunedin and the Oxford Clinic in Christchurch.