The Hub shopping mall to expand

Hornby's booming The Hub shopping mall is poised for a major expansion.

And the Hornby Workingmen's Club is planning a possible retail and office development nearby.

The Hub manager Jason Marsden confirmed plans for a "spectacular" new development on the mall site, but said he was unable to divulge firm details at this stage.

"Yes, we're planning a major expansion," Mr Marsden said.

"We're waiting for the final green light from the owners.

"I can't confirm the details until it is locked and loaded and we've spoken to all our retailers."

Mr Marsden said plans for an expansion had been under way "for a couple of years".

"It will be the most significant expansion in the mall's history," he said. "We're almost ready to go."

But he quashed rumours the development would be expand westward adjacent to Briscoes and The Warehouse, land now owned by the Hornby Workingmen's Club.

"We won't be encroaching on the club. They have their own plans for development," he said.

"We do have other property interests in the immediate vicinity".

Mr Marsden said The Hub now accommodated 60 retailers, but there were opportunities for new shops to meet the needs of the community.

"We have no homewares store now, for example."

Hornby was a growth area that was becoming more popular for residential development.

Mr Marsden said The Hub had been fielding many inquiries from retailers since the earthquakes, which had been a "real game-changer for this side of town".

Hornby Workingmen's Club general manager Daniel Ferguson confirmed the club was considering developing land it owned adjacent to the mall, "but nothing is finalised yet".

Mr Ferguson said there was potential for a two-story building with bulk retail on the ground floor and offices above.

"We're certainly looking at our options and we have resource consent for such a development."

The club would "work alongside" The Hub and had no wish to compete with the mall, Mr Ferguson said.