Mertha Investments Ltd co-director Allan Hamilton, of Arrowtown, applied for resource consent last year to redevelop The Tap tavern, on the corner of Wiltshire and Buckingham Sts, which was declined by independent commissioner David Collins, of Christchurch, in November.
That decision was appealed in December.
In his consent order, dated July 21, Judge Jon Jackson allowed the appeal and the QLDC decision to decline consent was "consequentially cancelled".
The decision means the former Colonial Bank stone cottage, built in 1874, will become the "front door" to the Buckingham St cottages, which have been restored by the council-appointed Arrowtown Trust.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times yesterday, Mr Hamilton said he was "delighted" and appreciated support from Arrowtown residents and businesses.
Having purchased The Tap building in 2008, the Hamilton family took over the lease of the tavern on Monday and was now preparing building consents to be lodged with Lakes Environmental.
The plans will see the back section of The Tap fitted with a new kitchen and bathroom facilities added on to the same level as the historic building, which had been a commercial site for most of its life, but never formally designated as such.
Landscaping will be carried out in the garden bar area of the tavern, additional outdoor dining space is planned along the Wiltshire St frontage as well as plans for a new 100sq m weatherboard building to be used as an off-licence bottle store.
The family's existing bottlestore - Allan Hamilton Wine Cellars in Ramshaw Lane - will continue to operate.
The landscaping work would also create a public walkway from Wiltshire St to the Buckingham St Cottages.
Mr Hamilton and his wife Barbara spent 18 months planning the restoration before lodging the initial application, having previously restored the Geraldine Post Office and their home on Anglesea St, Arrowtown.
"It's all very positive," Mr Hamilton said. "We're getting plans printed now and as soon as they're completed we'll submit them with Lakes Environmental for a building consent and go from there."
