Apartments progressing on Napier Hill

Apartments are planned at the old Napier Hospital site.

Napier City Council staff have recommended approval be granted to build the next stages of an up-market housing development on the city's old hospital site, including twin eight-storey apartment towers.

But the fate of the twin tower blocks, to replace a derelict high-rise hospital building on the Napier Hill site, will be decided after a resource consent hearing before an independent commissioner next week.

Todd Property Group already has permission to build an eight-lot subdivision and refurbish the former Arohaina Maternity Ward into 26 residential apartments on the old hospital site.

Its current application is to add five stand-alone homes, 21 terraced houses and the two tower blocks which would include 36 apartments plus a cafe.

Napier City Council has spent the past four months assessing the application, which attracted 33 public submissions.

The council's planning staff's recommendation, to be considered by independent hearings commissioner Mike Garland at next week's hearing, is that the consents for the project be granted, but subject to 72 conditions.

The hearing is scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week.

Todd Property bought the 5ha hill-top site from the Crown in 2011.

The Auckland-based company is part of Wellington-based Todd Corporation, owned and controlled by the wealthy Todd family.