Bunnings promises Grey Lynn branch will blend in

The proposed Bunnings warehouse store in Grey Lynn.

Bunnings has gone to lengths to make a proposed warehouse store fit into Grey Lynn, changing traditional design, layout and even exterior colour.

David Boersen, property and store development manager, and Chris Hume, director of Hume Architects, told independent hearing commissioners yesterday how the usual Bunnings green would not appear on all faces of the building.

"Architecturally, we have sought to minimise and set back the bulk of the building and we have also departed from our normal colour palette and selected a simple deep cream," Mr Boersen said.

Bunnings would create jobs in construction and retail, employing about 120 people in the store, Mr Boersen said, and carparking and the timber store would be in the basement.

The site was suitable for the three-level store because it already had commercial uses and store plans had been amended to meet the specific requirements of the site, he said.

"This proposal has been carefully produced in response to the particular circumstances of the site and is not a typical or traditional Bunnings design."

Traffic plans meant no giant trucks or "B-trains" would visit the store, truck movements would be limited to 35 a day, and five suppliers would use one carrier rather than five different carriers delivering to the site.

Although Auckland Council requires 422 carparks and Bunnings has only 218, Mr Boersen said that would be sufficient. Two basement levels of parking are proposed, adjacent to timber sales.

Stock movements would be carefully managed and construction effects mitigated by beginning demolition on Great North Rd to create a noise barrier to the residential areas behind.

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Mr Hume said Grey Lynn's commercial area was undergoing change, the site was underused and materials used for the new Bunnings were designed to fit into the area.

Bunnings' counsel, David Kirkpatrick, said he expected the applicant to finish presenting evidence today, then residents will present their side.

Greg Hill is chairing the four-person independent hearing commissioners panel in the case which is expected to finish on Thursday.