A resource consent to refurbish the building was released by the Dunedin City Council yesterday, showing Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand (HNZ) plans for future use.
Initially, the Castle St building would be used for site offices supporting the building of the new hospital.
When construction was finished the office space would be refitted to house end-of-trip facilities for cyclists, such as lockers and showers.
It would also continue to contain office space associated with the operation of the hospital.
HNZ delivery, infrastructure and investment director Monique Fouwler said yesterday that the refurbished building would be used for workspaces for hospital staff.
The working areas were in addition to those contained within the inpatient building, she said.
Collaborative workspace loss was among the cuts to the new hospital design in December 2022.
However a complete fit-out of collaborative workspace was announced as part of the $10 million the government reinstated to the build last April.
The resource consent document stated that no changes would occur to the protected facade of the dairy building, which had heritage value.
It was the only part of the old Cadbury factory to survive demolition in order to clear the site for the new hospital.
The refurbishment was limited to internal works within the existing building — including earthworks — and minor external works to the northern and western facades.
Excavations of about 360cu m were proposed for service trenches, foundation work and the lift well.
"The excavations are integral to the structural improvements to the building," HNZ’s application stated.
Consent for the refurbishment was granted on November 24.
Conditions as part of the consent ranged from the requirement for any earthworks involving contaminated soil to use suitable disposal methods, to controling sediment-laden stormwater run-off and arranging for an archaeological survey if heritage material was discovered.
A resource consent for the new hospital inpatient building granted in November also focused on creating a cycle-friendly location, with 130 staff bike parks required as part of its conditions.
The parking situation is yet to be resolved, but will involve continued reliance on parking spaces for the current hospital.
