Help Save Otago Lane!

Currently (as at 21/02/2010), we have not had visibility of the full plans that the developer intends to submit, however, we do have copies of the plans being used for the 'community consultation'.

954 04 aerial view board (summary of all changes to original plans - below)

You will see from these documents that there are very few changes being proposed to the original (withdrawn) plans detailed below. These changes can be summarised as follows:

Block E - reduced a storey. Now 3 storeys.

The building that would be built on top of Tchai-Ovna's door has been reduced from 4 to 3 storeys. This was the block that was intended to have social housing, but there are no longer any plans to have any social housing in the development as this would eat into the profit of the developers.

Block D - reduced a storey. Now 8 storeys. with the uppermost floor set back from the building line.

The original plans were to be larger than the Unite building on Gibson Street, however, as this was built higher than was approved by planning, the Otago Lane development has been brought down to reflect the original intent of the Unite building.

Block D - elevation treatment revised to re!ect replanning of building. Now more solid to void ratio.

'Architect speak' for smaller windows

Landscaping providing a series of terraces from river to lane. The planted terrraces will not be accessible to the public.

This is simply ground treatment to stop the need for a large retaining wall

Block A corner reduced to 6 storeys on corner. Roof line now sitting within that of urban block.

The flats at the corner of Otago Street and Otago Lane have been brought down to the same ridge height as the rest of the proposed development

Block A top f!oor remodelled to present a pitched roof to Otago St, with eaves and ridge lines similar to the neighbouring buildings.

There would still be new flats within the attic space of the current Otago Street flats. However, these attic flats will have no natural light from the Otago Street elevation as there will be no windows in the pitched roof. All natural light will be from the Otago Lane / River Kelvin elevation where there would still be a 'box' style construction.

Block C top level remodelled to reduce scale to the lane.

Basically no change from what was originally planned other than cosmetic changes

Block C moved northward to increase width of the lane.

The large circular tower block has been moved forward by 1-metre

Block C finished floor level lowered to reduce scale to the lane.

The height of the large circular tower block has been reduced by 1-metre

Remodelled openspace with improved wildlife area and residents amenity space.

Cosmetic changes to the amenity space for the potential new residents, not accessable to non-residents of the new development

So as you can see, not a great deal to show for 3-months of 'community engagement'. As before, the developer has completely disregarded any material comments from the local community and gone with the changes that will maximise his profit.

As the plans from the (now withdrawn) original application are available in the public domain, I have created links to these plans below

Although the original planning application is technically withdrawn, these plans were being used unaltered for the community consultation process (as at 13/11/09), and the full summary of changes that have been communicated to OLCA are detailed above.

There is a lot to wade through, however, the most relevant one is '910 Design & Access Statement'.