125 Grey Street development
- Project typeProperty deconstruction and site redevelopment
- Contractor nameARC (asbestos removal and deconstruction; Geometria Ltd (heritage recording)
- Completion Date08 July 2026
Image: View from Grey Street - concept plan (Tennent Brown Architects)
Whanganui District Council has agreed to lease its property at 125 Grey Street to Te Oranganui Trust, supporting the trust’s vision for a community-focused hauora hub.
The decision follows community engagement and an in-depth assessment of risks and opportunities for the site, which is the former home of St George’s School.
With reports indicating most of the buildings on the site are earthquake-prone and contaminated with asbestos, the council resolved in July 2025 to move forward with a sensitive deconstruction of the buildings, in consultation with the Whanganui Regional Heritage Trust, and lease the cleared site long-term to Te Oranganui.
As part of the lease, the newer administration building facing Grey Street will remain, along with the YMCA Early Childhood Centre with access from London Street, while the older surrounding buildings will be deconstructed. This option is expected to cost around $1.25 million, including asbestos removal, deconstruction, soil remediation and compliance. This will be funded through the City Endowment Fund and will not be a direct cost to ratepayers (revenue from the lease will directly benefit ratepayers).
*Hauora hub - community and wellbeing hub
Background
The Grey Street property was home to St George’s School from 1927 to 2012, when it was sold to the YMCA. Whanganui District Council Holdings Ltd acquired the property from the YMCA in 2019 and occupied it until 2021. Whanganui District Council purchased the property from Whanganui District Council Holdings in 2023.
Transitional housing was initially considered for the property, but that proposal was withdrawn after strong neighbourhood opposition.
The net annual loss is $4000 (rates plus security and maintenance is $55,000, income from YMCA lease is $51,000).
Assessments show that the Class B heritage buildings are earthquake-prone (10–30% of the New Building Standard), with asbestos contamination. It is estimated that it would cost more than $12 million to bring the site up to safe, usable standards.
Benefits and outcomes
- Provides the council with ongoing lease income with no costs ($158,000 net annual profit)
- Removes health and safety risks
- Creates an integrated hauora hub in Springvale
- Ensures heritage values are recognised through recording, material reuse, and design input
- Supported by Iwi partners and aligned with the council’s plan for financial sustainability
Image: Proposed site plan (Tennent Brown Architects)
Project schedule
- Lease signed with Te Oranganui Trust - completed
- Business case for funding - completed
- Heritage recording and site preparation
- On-site data capture - completed
- Heritage interpretation plan
- 2D and 3D images, CAD drawings and drone videos - ongoing
- Series of tenders released for asbestos removal and deconstruction - tender awarded
- Construction site fencing, security and environmental controls - ongoing
- Asbestos removal
- Site visits
- Deconstruction and stockpiling of reusable material
- Redistribution of reusable materials
- Removal of contaminated soil, reinstated with clean fill and grass
Image: Contractors on site at 125 Grey Street - December 2025
Road closures
No road closures are planned for this project. Access to residents and businesses will be available at all times.
The former St George's School frontage
The inner courtyard and seating area
The admin building (left) that will remain
Part of the original classroom block
The court area and the additional classroom block
Minimising waste
Minimising waste was an important consideration for this project, which was completed in July 2026.
An estimated 774 tonnes of material were removed from the site. This included 15 tonnes of asbestos-contaminated internal material which was removed by licensed asbestos removal contractors ARC. Of the remaining 759 tonnes, approximately 744 tonnes – around 98 per cent – was recovered and sold or donated. The other two percent of material was generally concrete and broken bricks – this was sent to crushing plants for reuse as roadway bedding.
The recovered materials included bricks, roofing tiles, timber, windows, doors and metal.
The approximately $189,000 raised from the sale of materials went to Whanganui’s City Endowment Fund for community projects.
All the bricks were sold or donated to the local Whanganui community and all the windows and wood were sold. A significant number of floorboards were also sold to the local community. Pine was sold locally, with the remainder containerised and donated to Pacific Island communities to support storm recovery operations. Recovered metal was sold to local scrap metal dealers.
A significant amount of material was also donated to community organisations. St George’s School, as the former occupant of the site, received bricks, wood, tiles, doors, foundation stones, a cross and other memorabilia.
Bricks and floorboards were donated to Te Oranganui for use in their new structures on the site, while a sizeable number of tables, chairs and other recovered items went to community groups around Whanganui.
Drinking fountains and adventure playground equipment were passed on to the council’s parks team and have since been installed at Kowhai Park and Te Mana Park.
Some bricks, wood and tiles have been set aside for a commemorative structure which the council is working with the Whanganui Heritage Trust to develop. These materials are currently in council storage.
The remaining tiles and internal doors are being stored by ARC Demolition. As these materials are sold, the council will share the revenue with ARC on a 50/50 basis.
A further 500 tonnes of asbestos- and hydrocarbon-contaminated soil was removed and disposed of at Bonny Glen landfill and replaced with clean fill.
Overall, approximately 744 tonnes of material was recovered and sold or donated, while approximately $189,000 was raised from material sales and returned to Whanganui’s City Endowment Fund.
Location
125 Grey Street, Whanganui 4501 View Map
-39.9290186,175.031237
125 Grey Street ,
Whanganui 4501
125 Grey Street ,
Whanganui 4501
125 Grey Street development
Images