The Athletic Club has sought Planning approval to build an eight-storey gym and office building in Hamilton.

The 138 foot tall, 49,542 gross square foot building is planned to be built on the old ?Island Cuisine? building on No. 4 Wesley Street, between Cumberland House? with an elevation of 125 feet ? and Craig Appin House near City Hall car park.

Architect Simon Hodgson admitted the In-Principle Planning application was bound to fail because it was against Planning rules.

?Our client acknowledges the site is zoned for a maximum of seven stories above street level and understands the DAB has no discretion to permit an additional bonus floor unless they provide 50 percent gross floor area dedicated to residential use,? Mr. Hodgson of s.h.y. Architecture told Planning on May 12.

?Consequently, it is anticipated this application will have to be reviewed by the Independent Planning Inspector and the Minister of the Environment on appeal, where we hope to make compelling arguments why the Minister should exercise her discretion and allow the additional floor for this development.?

Mr. Hodgson said he and his clients ? Richard and Kim Burns ? were confident that during the ?Planning review? it would be seen to have ?real merit?.

The plan shows three underground storeys ? one floor alone including a 25-metre-long swimming pool, whirlpool room, steam and sauna room.

A cafe/bar is planned for the ground floor, it said, where there will also be a pro shop and members? lounge, while the next floors plan to hold free weights, cardiovascular, group exercise and a ?mind and body? room respectively.

The fourth floor will hold women and men executive changing rooms for The Athletic Club, it said, and , the remaining three floors will hold 14,416 square feet of commercial space.

?These preliminary design drawings show our client contemplating a uniquely conceived building where the many different functions of the proposed wellness facility are organised over eight floors on a landlocked urban in-fill site ? comprising 74 percent of the remaining gross floor area,? Mr. Hodgson said.

?The configuration of storeys on the site is manipulated to allow for eight floors above street level with the remainder below grade.?