A new inner-city hotel and apartment complex is on the way for Nelson following the sale of the former bus hub on Bridge Street.

Council approved the sale of the site at 25-27 Bridge Street to Safari Group in October 2024 following a call for expressions of interest targeted at developments that support city centre revitalisation and increased residential living.

An eight-storey hotel and apartment complex containing 54 hotel rooms and 54 residential apartments is expected to significantly increase the number of people living in Nelson’s city centre, while also supporting revitalisation through the addition of new visitor accommodation in the heart of the city.

The final details of the agreement were signed last month and development of the site, currently being used by Isaac Construction, is expected to begin in 2027 following the completion of the Bridge to Better Project.

City Revitalisation Taskforce Chair Pete Rainey said the development demonstrated that Nelson’s city centre was attracting significant new investment.

“The scale of this project reflects confidence in Nelson’s future. Council is investing in our city, and we’re now seeing that confidence matched with action from the private sector.

“In making substantial investments like the $78 million Bridge to Better project, we were looking to strengthen our city centre and attract private sector investment. This new development from Safari Group is a tangible example of that strategy coming to fruition and will also provide a boost to our tourism sector.

“When Council sought expressions of interest for this site, we were looking for developments that would support a more vibrant city centre and increased residential living. Safari Group's proposal stood out for its ambition and its alignment with our vision for the future of the city centre.”

Safari Group Managing Director Rob Neil said the company was excited to expand its hotel brand into Nelson while also helping increase residential housing supply.

“Nelson is a city we have been looking at for a number of years, so we are grateful for the opportunity to make this project a reality.

“We look forward to working alongside Nelson City Council to deliver a development that will contribute to the city's growth and provide new accommodation options for both residents and visitors.”

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith said the hotel and apartment development is hugely exciting for Nelson and a gamechanger for the city’s revitalisation.

“It will be the largest new building in Nelson’s CBD for many decades and will substantially increase our accommodation capacity for tourism and events as well as increasing the number of people living in the central city.

“Safari Group has a great track record of delivering similar developments in cities such as Auckland, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown.

“I wish to acknowledge the Council and Safari teams, particularly Council Chief Executive Nigel Philpott, for the work that has gone into securing this important development for our city.”