The applicant proposes to refurbish the interior and exterior of the existing restaurant building. The construction of an additional floor of 149m2 above the existing building is also proposed. The ground floor will remain as a restaurant and the upper floor will be used as a community facility.

The proposal will contribute to improving the attractiveness and pleasantness of the public area within proximity of the site. The design of the building includes framing, different materials and treatments, and a variation of heights and modulation along the facade which all contribute to creating an interesting and visually appealing building.

The design of the building demonstrates that the building will still be visually connected with the existing built form while achieving the planned outcome of the zone. Although the building is set back from the public footpath, the entrance is appropriately visible and provides direct and convenient access for all ages and abilities via the front door located on the ground floor.

The building will have windows on the first and second floor of the southern and eastern facade which demonstrates that there will be no blank walls visible from the public space. The location of the windows and the extent of glazing provided in the proposed design achieves a suitable level of visibility between the public space and the building interior as well as opportunities for passive surveillance of the public street.

All service areas will be located at the rear of the building and therefore will not be visible to people using the public space.

The ground floor will have a ground to ceiling height of 2.7m and the first floor will have a floor to ceiling height of 2.65m, which allows for the flexibility of space to be adaptable to a wide variety of uses over time.

The proposed development complies with all the relevant standards under the Town Centre zone, demonstrating that the refurbishments and additions to the existing building are appropriate for the site and achieves the planned character of the zone.

In terms of positive effects, the proposal may encourage the owners/occupiers of the units on the site and adjacent properties to refurbish their buildings, resulting in a cleaner and more pleasant environment for people visiting the Papatoetoe town centre.