An Auckland planner has shot down plans for a proposed 5-star hotel in Queenstown.
The Queenstown Hotel (NZ) Ltd Partnership — comprising Trojan Holdings Ltd and Katdan Hotel NZ Ltd — applied for fast-track consent with the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for the six-storey, 185-room hotel on Man St.
Mountain Scene earlier reported it could provide a one-time boost in national GDP of $85 million and ongoing GDP benefits to the tune of $37m.
But University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning head Dr Lee Beattie’s not a fan of the hotel’s design — curated by global architecture studio Woods Bagot.
While the studio aimed to minimise the visual impacts, while still providing panoramic views of Lake Whakatipu and the Remarkables, in his report to the EPA, Beattie’s raised concerns about the impacts of the proposed hotel’s height — ranging from 16.75m at the eastern end to 24m at the western end — bulk and mass blocking of public views.
Following a site visit in May, Beattie’s concluded the hotel will have an adverse impact on public viewing opportunities of the landscape values ‘‘which make Queenstown what it is’’, from several locations, including Man St and Earnslaw Park.
He notes, though, he could have supported extra height if the proposal had broken up the bulk and height more effectively.
The panel’s minute says having considered Beattie’s report, along with others, and undertaken their own site visit, they find the concerns raised over the height and bulk ‘‘persuasive’’.
Beattie’s also raised concerns about the building’s response at ground level to Man St.
The panel has encouraged the applicant to respond to the points raised in Beattie’s report, along with invited comments.
— Additional reporting: Tracey Roxburgh
