Work on Auckland's Drury South Crossing is ahead of schedule

The country's largest industrial and residential development will see about six thousand people employed in the distribution, food processing, tech, manufacturing and logistics sectors.

It had been thought construction on the first of the new warehouses and commercial facilities on the land, would start late this year.

But CEO Stephen Hughes says strong domestic demand means they're ahead of expectations.

He says they settled their first titles just prior to Christmas -- so anticipates construction on those buildings will begin in the first half of this year.