Eden Park considers lowering the roof as Harbour offers alternative

Eden Park is looking at lowering the roof on its ambitious design as North Harbour Stadium bosses try to position themselves as a serious alternative to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup final.

Eden Park Development Committee chairman Rob Fisher said he was aware that many of the negative submissions regarding the Eden Park upgrade surrounded the issue of shading on neighbouring houses and that they were working with designers to counter the opposition.

"The advice is that Eden Park is consentable and we're pushing on with that."

The Herald on Sunday revealed in June that sweeteners, including central heating and double glazing, would be offered to nearby residents who were affected by the new southern and eastern stand.

However, lowering the roof on the proposed new stand might be the easiest way to circumvent widespread objection.

"We've certainly asked our architects and engineers to see whether the roof can be reduced," Fisher said. "It's too early to say but if we can do it, we will."

Part of the bid document that secured the World Cup stated that Eden Park would be a 60,000-seat stadium so extra room for seats would have to be found if the roof was lowered.

The revelation comes in the same week that North Harbour Stadium bosses have put forward their venue as a viable alternative.

Stadium chief executive Brendon O'Connor said: "This issue has gone from being a rugby and World Cup issue to one about a national stadium that has to serve the community way past 2011."