Word About Town: Big Moves and New Builds

If you've felt a buzz of activity around Invercargill recently, you're not wrong. From new builds taking shape to familiar faces relocating, the city's commercial landscape is certainly on the move. Here's a look at some of the latest developments making headlines around town.

A prominent CBD corner is seeing a shuffle. Walker Murdoch Law is preparing to relocate from their long-standing offices at the corner of Kelvin and Yarrow Streets. They won't be moving far, setting up their new practice on the ground floor of the building housing Bayleys Real Estate, on the northwest corner of Kelvin and Spey Streets.

Directly across the street, another significant project is taking shape. The northeast corner of Kelvin and Spey Streets is the site of a new, purpose-built office for the Department of Conservation (DOC). The progress on this modern facility marks a major investment in the city centre.

For those eagerly awaiting a new fast-food option, the construction of Popeyes Chicken on Dee Street is a welcome sight. Located conveniently opposite KFC, the building work is progressing well, bringing the famous Louisiana-style chicken one step closer to Invercargill diners. We broke the story Invercargill getting first South Island Popeyes.

Meanwhile, there's growing speculation about the former BP Highway site on Tay Street, which has been sitting empty since it closed just over two years ago. The site has been a hive of activity over the past month, with tradesmen on-site daily, concrete being dug up, and brand-new fuel pumps being installed. We reached out to BP for comment, and a spokesperson told us, "bp Ascot and bp North Road currently provide our bp fuel offer to our customers in Invercargill. The 163 Tay Street location previously operated as a bp dealer site until it closed in 2023. We continue to review opportunities across our nationwide network." While the official line remains non-committal, the investment on the ground has locals talking. If I were a betting man, I'd say Tay Street is about to get a inner city petrol station back, bp or who?

Finally, in another key relocation, Wrightsons is set to move its farm supplies store from Dee Street. They are developing a new, purpose-built facility conveniently attached to their existing woolstores on Fox Street, creating a consolidated hub for their rural clients.

It's clear that Invercargill is a city in motion, with these developments promising to bring new energy and convenience to residents.