Office Out, Apartments In for Rejected Armadale Mid-Rise

Developer H.Co is trying its luck again on a site in Melbourne’s south-east, lodging new plans for another six-storey mixed-use development with the City of Stonnington.

It comes two years after the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal upheld the council’s refusal for plans at 935 and 941-951 High Street, Armadale due to heritage concerns.

However, this time the H.Co was opting for five floors of apartments above a floor of retail instead of office space and gymnasium space and a 2m height reduction.

The 1355sq m site features two Edwardian-era commercial buildings that would be used as retail space and vehicle entry in the new design by Cera Stribley architects.

The plans included 26 apartments, basement parking for 50 cars, terraces and a roof garden.

“The proposal responds directly to the findings of the tribunal and the council in relation to a previous and vastly different commercial development proposal,” the planning report by Human Habitats said.

“This includes the retention and repurposing of the facade at 935 High Street which was proposed to be removed as part of the previous development proposal.”

▲ The rejected design on High Street, Armadale is being replaced by plans for a slightly taller, office building.

The suburb 7km from Melbourne CBD is a hotspot for development activity as Armadale’s High Street is second only to Brighton’s Church Street as the Victoria capital’s strongest-performing retail strip.

Rich lister Tony Gandel and wife Helen filed five-storey office plans on the strip late last year.

Central Equity also reportedly dropped $30 million on a row properties on High Street earlier this year.