Above Rail Residential Tower Knocked Back in Melbourne

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has rejected plans for a 20-storey residential tower in the Melbourne suburb of Windsor.

The proposal for a 681sq m tower at 24 Chapel Street was lodged by SMA Projects mid-2017 only to be rejected by the City of Stonnington. The developer then referred the case to VCAT.

The proposal outlined plans for 45 apartments across 15 levels and five levels of retail, commercial and car parking spaces to be built above a 17-metre-wide railway line.

The proposal also included the requirement of a $4.5 million payment by SMA Projects for use of the air rights above the railway line.

After an eight-day hearing the JCB Architects-designed tower was found to be overscaled and would not integrate well with low-rise heritage scale of the area.

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VCAT representatives said the the tower would negatively impact several heritage shopfronts along Chapel Street and was void of a distinct podium or setback.

“Any new development must be sensitive to the sense of place in Chapel Street with new buildings limited in scale and providing setbacks adequate from the street wall as to not erode the distinctive character and mix of uses in the neighbourhood,” council said.

“However we agree with the council in that the site constraints should not in themselves override the problems we have identified with the proposal.

“Not every site will be developable.”

In response to the planning permit application for the proposal, 77 objections were received and Council decided to issue a notice of refusal.

“The project presented an opportunity to think more creatively about the possibilities for development in Windsor,” SMA Projects development manager Robert Murphy told The Urban Developer.

“Particularly how we can be better utilising developable space in these inner-city suburbs to cater for the rising demands from purchasers.”

“The project set a benchmark for sustainable design in Melbourne and we believe it leaves a strong legacy to refer to when considering future development in the area.”

Council also cited concerns for the proposed tower's lift shaft and lower levels impacted the Chapel Street streetscape.

Project architect Graham Burrows’ view was that having the proposed 20-storey tower on the subject land would provide a “moment of difference” on Chapel Street, reinforcing the value of the street's heritage.

SMA were unable to provide details on the future of the site.