A three-level commercial development in Hamilton East's heritage precinct is to be built where a two-level shopping complex drew strong community opposition four years ago.
The latest proposal for the Eastgate development on the corner of Clyde St and Grey St was last week granted resource consent. There is space for two retailers and a cafe on the ground floor, and offices on the second and third floor.
Construction will begin next year and is expected to take 12 months. The building is much smaller in scale but one level higher than the developer's 2008 plans for a two-level retail complex with 40 shops.
Developer Barry Livingston said the new focus on office space was a result of speaking to the community trust, the council and the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary about what they wanted.
Hamilton East Community Trust chairwoman Lois Livingston, whose group strongly opposed having a large-scale shopping centre on the community-zoned site due to traffic concerns, said the developer had this time consulted the trust over the latest plans.
