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Developers of a new five-star Auckland hotel planned for the waterfront now want to build 21 levels instead of the 10 originally planned.
Britomart development company Bluewater Group has changed plans for the Seafarers Centre site on Quay St and instead of building a low and wide building, it wants to build a tall, thin structure.
Matthew Cockram, Bluewater's chief executive, said this week plans had changed due to economic reasons.
Last year, Bluewater released concept images of the Britomart Hotel as a structure of about 10 levels. But Cockram now says plans are to develop a structure around the same height as the 19-level HSBC Building at 1 Queen St but lower than the 26-level PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower.
Sarah Hull at Bluewater said yesterday the proposed hotel would have 175 rooms and be about 21 levels. The Seafarers Centre, which will be demolished under the plans, is seven levels.
That would make the hotel higher than restrictions for the area allow.
Cockram said Bluewater had lodged an application for a private plan change with Auckland City.
"We want to work closely with the city on this and seek wide input into the development of a design which is uniquely South Pacific in nature and part of a fitting gateway to the city from the sea.
"We only have one chance to get this right, and it is important for Auckland that we do.
"We certainty can't do it with the current height restriction on that particular piece of land.
"At this stage we believe the outcomes would be preferable to the impact of a shorter, wider hotel building originally envisaged on the site.
"The economics of the project are finely balanced and the original concept for a hotel on this very valuable site simply won't work.
"The final design will incorporate and retain the adjoining heritage buildings known as Altrans and Quay Buildings to give a 1560sq m site."
Later this year, construction of two 55m-tall buildings would begin on land to the south and east of the hotel site, offering office, retail and residential space spread over 12 floors.
Cockram said the prospect of the wharves opposite being redeveloped emphasised the importance of creating a gateway waterfront hotel which Auckland would be proud of.
