Premier

Planning Minister Pushes For Higher Tower Standards

17 March 2016

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne has reached a compromise with the developer of a King Street tower, giving final approval for a new CBD tower which will generate construction jobs and complement the surrounding area.

The proposal for the King Street site was submitted before Mr Wynne introduced interim planning controls in 2015, meaning the application had to be considered under the rules which applied when it was made.

Given the lack of planning provisions to guide CBD development prior to the interim controls, Mr Wynne and the Department of Land, Water, Environment and Planning sought to work with the developer in order to come to an agreement following concerns the original proposal would overwhelm the site.

The site is in a part of the city considered ripe for high-density residential development and the approved design is 209.8 metres high, compared to the 268.75 metres originally proposed.

Total apartment numbers fell from the original 603 to 431, and rather than the 99 studios first proposed, the final design has no studios and a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Setbacks from the street have also been increased.

The project is one of several inner-city proposals which have been approved following more work to encourage more variety in apartment sizes and bedroom configurations and better interaction with the streetscape.

Work is ongoing for new CBD controls which allow for high-density development which does not overwhelm the streetscape and for new apartment guidelines and will be released for further consultation later this year.

The Andrews Labor Government is making sure the investment appetite for the CBD continues by protecting the Hoddle Grid’s character and liveability.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Planning Richard Wynne

“This project is in a part of the city undergoing transformation where we are encouraging well-designed development to accommodate Melbourne’s population growth.”

“We will continue to work in good faith with the property industry to negotiate good outcomes and push for quality projects.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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