Foam Factory at The Sleepyhead Estate due for completion in Q3 this year
Earthworks for stage one of The Comfort Group’s Sleepyhead Estate at Ohinewai are now complete, and construction of the company’s foam manufacturing facility on site is well underway and set to be complete in Q3 2023.
The 6076m² factory will be New Zealand’s largest foam manufacturing plant and will be operational in early 2024, at which point it will employ 15 people. It will supply 100% of The Comfort Group’s foam for the company’s bedding manufacturing operations in New Zealand.
After receiving planning and rezoning approval for The Sleepyhead Estate in early 2022, the focus over the last 12 months has been on preparatory earthworks on the site, obtaining additional building and resource consents required and having discussions regarding the critical infrastructure such as wastewater, stormwater, freshwater and electricity for the next stages of the development.
Sleepyhead are excited to reach this stage, and are grateful for the support they have received from the Waikato District Council, Waikato-Tainui, the local community and local business community which has enabled us to get to this point.
For a greenfields development of this size and scale it’s necessary to take a staged and methodical approach, and to adapt the timing and staging of the project as required to ultimately deliver a development that is fit for purpose and create a thriving community.
As with all major greenfields developments, timing and staging is also contingent on securing access to critical infrastructure; wastewater, stormwater, water and electricity. Sleepyhead have been working with all relevant parties to progress this and while agreements are yet to be reached, are confident that there is a clear path forward for solutions on key infrastructure.
While Sleepyhead continue to progress these infrastructure discussions, planning is continuing for the next phases of the development, stage two, the Sleepyhead Factory, and three, the commercial area. A variety of factors will mean timelines are extended for these stages however the phasing remains the same.
The development sits in the ‘golden triangle’ between Auckland, Tauranga and Hamilton and Sleepyhead will shortly begin the process of seeking expressions of interest from commercial/industrial partners who are interested in the national and regional economic benefits this development will offer, and want to establish their operations here.
This is a project that will span over more than a decade to completion. Sleepyhead will continue to work in close partnership with local government, iwi and the local community to deliver the long-term employment, infrastructure, economic and cultural benefits The Sleepyhead Estate will bring to the district.
