VCAT Greenlights Above Zero’s 13-Home Camberwell Project

Developer Above Zero and Willow Group have won approval for a Melbourne project after a three-year wait. 

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has granted planning permission for the 13-home project at Camberwell, 15km west of the CBD after the proposals was refused by the City of Boroondara.

Plans for the approved project at 64-66 Glyndon Road, Middle Campberwell were filed with the council by Above Zero in October, 2023, the second proposal put forward for the site. 

An earlier proposal was also refused by the council. Above Zero also appealed that decision with VCAT, who upheld the council’s refusal.

The now-approved plans received 402 objections during the exhibition period.

Middle Campberwell has strict planning controls under City of Boroondara Council policy, with no more than five homes permitted for one site. This approval is the first to over-ride that.

▲ Above Zero's mixed-use project at Camberwell Junction was the biggest project the City of Boroondara had approved in more than a decade.

The Cera-Stribley-designed plans comprise 13 homes of three, four-and five-bedrooms over a basement level on the 2995sq m site. 

The second floors of the building are set back from the street. 

While residents expressed concern about off-site amenity impacts, VCAT senior member Bill Sibonis noted that the council’s refusal did not refer to such concerns and that a judgment on the current proposal’s suitability could not refer to whether the previous proposal had been suitable or not. 

Three months ago the City of Boroondara granted permission for another Cera Stribley-designed Above Zero project, a 12-storey mixed-use project at Camberwell Junction.