Mt Albert: New McDonald’s & Self-Storage Building Get Green Light
A three-story self-storage facility planned for Latest North Road in Auckland’s Mt Albert is facing community opposition, with residents questioning how the project aligns with local planning goals. The building, proposed by National Storage, received resource consent from Auckland Council in May 2024, but concerns are now being voiced about its impact on the area’s character and vibrancy.
Qing Yu, a Mt Albert resident, expressed frustration on a local Facebook page, arguing the development is “incompatible” with the community’s vision for the area. Yu contends that allowing “industrial-scale logistics” on prime land diminishes Mt Albert’s residential appeal. She has called on the Albert-Eden Local Board to review the project’s consistency with the Albert-Eden Local Board Plan, which prioritizes “vibrant and connected town centres.”
The planned facility, at 955 New North Rd, will cover 6,409 square meters and include 11,888 square meters of storage space, offering units of varying sizes. The design incorporates 17 on-site parking spaces and two loading bays designed to accommodate medium-rigid trucks. A 123-square-meter retail space intended for the sale of moving boxes is also part of the plan.
Planners Tattico, representing The Trust Company as custodian for the National Storage New Zealand Property Trust, submitted the application to the council. Tattico argued that increased demand for self-storage is driven by population intensification. The application stated the building’s height, approximately 14 meters, remains below the permitted limit of 24 meters, aiming for a design that is “sympathetic” to the surrounding environment.
The council granted non-notified consent, citing the building’s suitability for the zone and location. The decision noted the building would not negatively impact the amenity of adjacent streets and that, despite its “utilitarian nature,” architectural techniques were employed to enhance its appearance.
National Storage identifies itself as one of the largest self-storage providers in Australasia, operating over 230 centers across Australia and New Zealand. The company serves both residential and commercial customers in locations including Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch.
The development comes as another commercial project progresses nearby. Consent has also been granted for a new McDonald’s restaurant at 953 New North Rd. On July 24, 2025, the Albert-Eden Local Board acknowledged Katrina Felton, a local business owner representing McDonald’s, during a meeting.
The rise of self-storage facilities in Auckland follows a trend highlighted by the sale of National Mini Storage, Auckland’s largest storage chain, to Kennards Self Storage for A$4 billion in 2025. National Mini Storage, founded in 1991, began with a single location in Penrose.