‘Sausage flats’ development denied resource consent

Invercargill developers Alister Wright and Liz Gray have been refused resource consent for their ‘‘sausage flats’’ on the Crinan and Conon street corner, because the development would have an adverse effect on the environment, an adjudicator has ruled.

Their application was heard by independent commissioner Bob Nixon on October 30, after a Invercargill City Council hearing panel could not reach a decision when it met in September whether to allow the 12-unit development to go ahead.

Nixon declined the proposed development because it would not only have ‘‘adverse effects that are more than minor on the environment’’, but because it was inconsistent with the objectives and policies of the Invercargill proposed district plan regarding urban design.

In his report, he says while the north-facing aspect was ‘‘one of the few positive aspects of the site layout’’, the almost square shape of the combined sections allowed for ‘‘more imaginative siting of buildings’’. ‘‘What is proposed here are three uniform, monotonous blocks of ‘sausage flats’.’’

He compared the development with the applicants’ four units on Nelson St, which he had visited.

‘‘Unfortunately, this confirmed my worst fears, with the site frontage to Martin Street consisting of a very long uniform building frontage lacking any variation in the facade or roof line, behind a long blank fence.’’

Yesterday, Wright said he was left feeling upset by the report and baffled at the decision.

He had worked with Invercargill surveyor Donald Moir on the project, who had presented evidence at the independent hearing regarding the design.