Planning officials have rejected an office block in central Hamilton due to its excessive height.

The Development Applications Board refused permission for the seven-storey building at 20 Brunswick Street, arguing it exceeded the maximum five floors allowed under the City of Hamilton Plan.

The Board said: "The proposed development of a new seven-storey mixed use building does not comply with the City of Hamilton Plan 2001 in that the maximum number of storeys permitted on the site is five.

"The proposed projections into the setback are also non-compliant for the reason that the projections are enclosed spaces that form part of the floor space of the building."

The DAB said the projections did "not provide outdoor space for pedestrians or the occupants of a building".

Citadel Properties, based at law offices Trott and Duncan, had applied to construct the seven-floor building for residential and office use.

The two-storey Bermudian stone Meridian House would have been demolished to make way for five floors of offices, two upper storeys of condominiums, plus an underground parking level and a storage basement.

The office block would have covered 6,125 square feet, and was designed by architects Botelho Wood.

A DAB report concluded: "The application is not considered to be reasonable."