The Dunedin City Council issued consent to the owners of the Normanby Tavern building, Nicky and Mel Fowler, who own Fowler Homes Otago, at the end of last year.
It will allow the North Rd tavern in North East Valley, which closed last year, to be transformed into a residential property, including 10 bedrooms, one office, an outdoor barbecue area and an 80.55sqm outdoor living space.
The consent refers to the property being a residential unit, but it is unclear specifically what that means.
According to the proposed floor plan for the 1313sqm site, the old public bar spaces would become communal lounges; the private bar, a dining and kitchen area; and the lounge bar largely become bedrooms and bathrooms.
The outside of the building would not change and a small bar would remain at the entrance of the old tavern.
At the beginning of last year the Normanby Tavern’s publicans, Susanne and Richard Dagg, opened Heffernan’s Restaurant alongside Heff’s Hotel in King Edward St, South Dunedin.
As a result, they closed the bistro that was attached to the tavern.
Mr Dagg stayed on as the publican at the tavern, but shortly after, the doors were closed for good.
Mr and Mrs Fowler could not be reached for comment yesterday.
