The site is in an Intensification zone, with excellent infrastructure and nearby amenities including shops, parks, public transport, and employment. It is within a 2-minute walking distance of Waikato Hospital grounds and St Peter’s Park. It is within 5 minutes of the Orbiter and Melville bus routes, and 30 minute walking distance to the Hamilton CBD and the Lake Domain.

The site is therefore suitable for apartment-style residential accommodation with increased density leading to more sustainable city living, and is in keeping with the intent of the District Plan.

There is demand for low-maintenance affordable accommodation for working people in a flatting arrangement, in particular medical staff. Waikato Hospital is a teaching hospital and has many staff who are recent graduates from tertiary education now undergoing training in medium term programs.

Traditional ‘family’ housing and home ownership models are not suitable. The proposed development meets the specific needs of staff: outdoor living requirements are negligible; shift work means small internal living areas are adequate; socialising can take place in Hospital facilities; study areas are accessible in the Hospital library; living without a car is both viable and preferable and if necessary, parking is available for staff in the Hospital grounds.

The design is based on student accommodation (which the residents will be familiar with), catering for a group of 4 colleagues to lease an apartment as a household unit. Individual needs may vary so there are 2 larger bedrooms downstairs, each with their own ensuite. This is ideal for shift workers as it minimises noise and disruption. 2 smaller bedrooms upstairs share a bathroom. The kitchen and lounge are upstairs to take advantage of the view and good daylight. The ground level outdoor areas are unlikely to be used for entertaining and will be equipped with clotheslines.

One car park is available immediately beside each unit. The development encourages sustainable transport by minimising the number of parking spaces. A bike rack will be located at the rear of the section.

The building will use low-pitch roofs to keep the overall height down. The upper floor is offset over the ground floor so that a roof at the first floor height emphasises a domestic scale. Complementary cladding materials are mixed together on the elevations to break up the mass, and some angled walls are introduced to articulate the facades. Neutral colours will be used throughout.

CPTED principles are met by eliminating external hiding places, sensor lights covering the parking areas, and good passive observation with bedrooms overlooking the driveway.