An office block that would be higher than the Anglican Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity has been proposed for the corner of King Street and Victoria Street.

The plot of land is currently occupied by Safeguard Security?s building which is less than half the size of the planned offices.

It is at the highest point of King Street and, because of the elevated position in relation to the rest of the city, will result in the new office block standing 158 feet tall, some 15 feet higher than the Church Street Cathedral.

Building restrictions are currently in place to ensure the Cathedral remains the dominant feature of the city?s skyline and is unobscured from the harbour approaches.

While the proposed office block on the northern side of King Road, directly opposite the Salvation Army?s Harbour Light facility, would be within current City of Hamilton planning regulations that limit buildings to seven storeys, the agent acting for developer Rachel Enterprise Limited have acknowledged it will reach to a higher overall elevation than the Cathedral because it would be built on a hill.

However, the application filled by architects and agent Cooper & Gardner notes: ?It is not within the ?view corridor? of the Cathedral, however because of topography it will exceed 138 feet with the top of the building?s roof at 158 feet and four inches.

?It is located three and one-half city blocks to the east of the Cathedral and one block north. For this reason we submit that the proposal will not have a detrimental impact on the visual dominance of the Cathedral.?

Presently there are two vehicular access points to the site, one from King Street and one from Victoria Street.

The new development would reduce this to one access and the building would have an underground car park with spaces for 22 cars and 24 cycles.

The building would create 47,600 square feet of office space. If the planning application is approved it is proposed to demolish the existing smaller building which currently occupies the site.