Restoration of the Leys Institute in Ponsonby

This consultation closed on 01 December 2022.

Thank you for having your say on the proposed concept designs for the restoration of Leys Institute, Ponsonby.

We received 350 responses to the feedback. These came from a combination of visitors at our information locations, and our online survey.

Key feedback themes

•    The majority of people preferred design 1 (83%)

•    A small majority agreed with a targeted rate (57%)

•    We also received feedback on the importance of the restoration of Leys as soon as possible, how much to community values this heritage building and ideas for potential focus for future services.

What happens next

This consultation is part of the Leys Institute restoration and the results of the consultation help inform the Waitematā Local Board on how to proceed. The results influence the choice of design for the restoration of the Leys Institute and influence how we fund construction.

Work continues on returning this taonga to the community.

Work on the detailed design including the communities feedback will begin mid-2023. 

About the Leys Institute

The Leys Institute at 20 St Marys Road is a group of heritage buildings.

These buildings are earthquake-prone and closed in December 2019 due to safety risks. They need improvements to make them easier to use and safer in the event of an earthquake.

Auckland Council and Waitematā Local Board are preparing to restore and modernise these buildings so they will last for generations to come.

The buildings were constructed by the Leys family in 1905 for the benefit of the local community. They were the first major public buildings in the expanding suburb of Ponsonby.

Due to their historic significance, they are an important heritage taonga (treasure) to preserve.

We have worked with mana whenua and a rōpū of community leaders, including representatives from Friends of Leys, Heritage NZ, local community associations, and the Ponsonby Community Centre to develop design options.

Our heritage architect has a long history with the buildings and brought valuable local knowledge to the design process.

What we proposed

We have developed two concept designs for the heritage restoration, seismic remediation and modernisation of the Leys Institute.

The community needs a space that serves them now and in the future.

Design 1

Design 1 is a more expensive, best-case scenario based on our understanding of what current and future communities might need from the Leys Institute.

Design 1 – Leys Institute from Dedwood Terrace. 

Design 2

Design 2 is a lower-cost option. However, it offers fewer services and spaces for our community and will not meet the needs of our children or grandchildren.

Design 2 – Leys Institute from Dedwood Terrace.

We encourage you to view the concept plan for a more detailed comparison of the two designs. You can find more information on the concept plan, design and funding in our FAQ section.

What we wanted your feedback on

We wanted your feedback on which of the two concept plans you prefer.

We also wanted to know if you are comfortable with a targeted rate to fund design 1.

When you could have your say

You could have your say from 5 October 2022 to 5pm on 1 December 2022.