New building stuck in consents wrangle
Through blue tinted windows, the six-level building at 230 High Street looks almost ready to open.
Excess batts are lying around for removal and the plastered gib is waiting for paint. Hi-vis vests lying on desks and a parked wheelbarrow suggest the builders have just gone for smoko.
In fact, no work has been done since September.
The building, in a prime location among new buildings in Cashel Mall, is caught up in a consent wrangle that could take months more to untangle.
Soung Kim, a representative of building company Rockwell, said the building had been ‘‘substantially consented’’.
‘‘There are some matters which are being worked through with the Christchurch City Council. I otherwise cannot make any further comment at this stage.’’
Robert Wright, the Christchurch City Council’s head of building consenting, said no stop-work notices had been issued but the council had requested information about two of the staged building consents.
The council was also seeking a ruling from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment about a structural matter, he said.
‘‘In a nutshell, the building is being consented in four stages notwithstanding it started out as two.
‘‘Consent for stage one foundations is complete and has been issued a code compliance certificate.
‘‘Consent for stage two (steel superstructure) and consent for stage three (for building envelope and services) have both applied for a code compliance certificate but have outstanding requests for further information against them.
‘‘Consent for stage four lodged.’’
The building, owned by Hyang Kim, originally from Korea, is unusual in that buyers can purchase single floors through strata titles.
Kim wanted to create a ‘‘stunning mixed-use building attracting high-end clients as part of Christchurch’s exciting re-invigoration’’.
A Coffee Culture outlet is scheduled to occupy the ground level. is yet to be