The Northern Express Herald

Billionaire Normans buying ex-Beca House: City Rail Link station proximity big drawcard

A company owned by billionaire retailers Anne and David Norman is buying Auckland’s ex-Beca headquarters, with David Norman citing the benefits of being near the new $5.5 billion underground City Rail Link as one of the reasons for the purchase.

The building at 21 Pitt St has been empty for months after Beca left for Precinct Properties’ new Wynyard Quarter building.

Norman cited buses and trains as a reason why the business would buy.

“We believe that the City Rail Link will be a game-changer with the Karanga-a-Hape station only metres away from the building. This will encourage the use of public transport,” David Norman said today.

Likewise, being on major bus routes, particularly from the west, was a big advantage, he said.

James Pascoe Group had owned property in the area for over 100 years and loved the location, Norman added.

David Norman (left) and Anne Norman of James Pascoe Group: relocating staff to 21 Pitt St, after major building work.

Hundreds of staff from various operations, including Whitcoulls and Farmers, are expected to relocate, but not for some time.

The building has big floor plates but needs work, Norman said.

“Purpose-built for the Auckland Regional Council, several of the buildings’ features and functions are obsolete. The grand porte-cochere, due to Auckland traffic volumes, can no longer be used, so an alternative entry has to be designed,” he said.

The large debating chamber to the northwest of the main building was seldom used “so we need to repurpose this area”.

Beca House at 21 Pitt St. The business occupied it for more than a decade. Photo / Google Maps

The $550 million Wynyard Quayside by Precinct Properties as at March 2025. The new $300m Beca House spans three buildings all interconnected, in an L-shaped floor layout between Pakenham St West (left) and Piripi Lane (right). The Flowers Building is shown in the centre with a saw-tooth roof and the lower grey John Lysaght building is to the far left. Halsey St is at the bottom of this image. Photo / Precinct Properties

Likewise, the civil emergency bunker under the debating chamber must be redesigned.

“Another challenge to be faced is that when constructed, due to the close relationship of the regional authority and the city council, considerable leniency was given to certain parts of the building – planter boxes and dock approaches – that currently exist on what is now AT [Auckland Transport] property,” Norman said.

“Hence, to keep the look of the building at a very high standard, we will be seeking some understanding by the relevant authorities,” he said.

James Pascoe Group owns and operates several retailers in New Zealand and Australia. Photo / NZME

It could take two years to seek consents and carry out work before staff could relocate, he said.

James Pascoe Group, a privately owned business, is now headquartered at 29 Union St, not far from the Pitt St block.

The Normans appeared on the NBR Rich List with an estimated $1.1b fortune.

Settlement of the sale to Norman interests is due on December 18.

Former Nelson orchardist-turned-Christchurch property investor Miles Middleton is selling the property to the Norman-owned company.

In 2012, Middleton bought the ex-Vodafone, ex-Auckland Regional Council, ex-Beca House headquarters above Spaghetti Junction.

He paid $55 million then but did not wish to comment on any sale today.

Auckland Council values 21 Pitt St at $72.5m, of which most is the building, standing on a 67,430sq m site.

Beca left 21 Pitt St earlier this year for Precinct Properties’ Beca House Te Paeroa o te Kawau in the Wynyard Quarter.

Anne Gibson has been the Herald‘s property editor for 25 years, written books and covered property extensively here and overseas.

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