Green light for first apartment block in ‘great design’ high-density push

4 hours ago 2

The first apartment block to be fast-tracked under the state government’s “great design” pathway has been approved, setting a precedent for the higher-density developments it wants to see more of in Melbourne.

But not all residents are happy, and some claim the proposed seven-storey development sets an alarming precedent for new builds in residential neighbourhoods such as Fitzroy North.

The Rae Street development in Fitzroy North is the first to be fast-tracked through the government’s “great design” pathway.

The block of 27 homes would include 10 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments, as well as 41 underground car parking spaces, 49 bicycle spaces and communal open space.

The developers of the Rae Street complex secured its fast-track status following an external design review and three workshops with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect, demonstrating a commitment to the state government’s “great design” principles.

Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny formally approved the development on Friday, about three months after the application was lodged.

“This is exactly what the great design fast track is all about – backing great design, cutting delays and getting more high-quality homes built sooner,” she said.

The government said a similar-sized development could take up to eight months for council approval, or even years if it was dragged to VCAT.

The new pathway aimed at slashing approval times, introduced in April, gives the planning minister control of applications for townhouses and apartment projects of two to eight storeys, depending on their location, if they demonstrate high-quality design, liveability and sustainability and include modern construction methods.

The Rae Street development was opposed by some neighbours as well as Yarra City Council.

The government says the pathway will slash approval times and encourage more “affordable architectural heritage” across the state. The Fitzroy North complex is the first to be assessed under the pathway.

Similarly to the existing development facilitation program, residents can respond to the planning applications but have no powers to appeal against any decision at VCAT.

The Rae Street development was opposed by some neighbours as well as Yarra City Council, which had wanted the government to reduce the permitted height of the complex.

Neighbours told a council meeting in November the development would block natural sunlight and would not offer affordable housing – instead providing luxury apartments for the wealthy.

One long-time resident, Dennis McCormack, said the building was “totally unnecessary” on the scale it was proposed and set an alarming precedent for the area.

“The sheer bulk and height of the structure that is proposed is ridiculous … There is nothing like this anywhere near there,” he said.

“You’ll be laying down the grounds for more and more of this, and it will destroy the area.”

Unlike the similar housing fast-track scheme the development facilitation program, the great design initiative does not require developments to include any affordable housing or contribute to a housing fund.

However, applicants are required to show they are supporting more affordable housing through “innovative housing development and delivery models that respond to changing housing markets”.

In planning documents, Rae Street developer JMSN said this had been achieved through offering a range of apartment sizes catering to different price points, and said the material palette had been carefully selected to include robust materials that would not require frequent maintenance or replacement.

Yarra councillors had voted to support the application but only subject to conditions, including the removal of two storeys. However, councils do not have the power to block the applications and can only provide feedback to the state government. The seven-storey design was ultimately approved.

Kilkenny, through a spokesperson, did not say how many homes she expected to be built through the fast-track scheme.

JMSN did not respond to requests for comment.

Jonathan O’Brien, lead organiser at pro-development group YIMBY, said the great design pathway could allow great designs to be replicated across the city, which could lead to a new architecturally distinct “era of Melbourne”.

“It allows a scaling up of beauty of things that are tried and tested as opposed to trying to invest in something brand new right from scratch,” he said.

The design fast-track pathway is part of the state government’s broader planning overhaul, which has stripped local councils of decision-making powers for certain developments. Other recently announced changes will also make it easier for landowners to subdivide blocks and build townhouses, while removing the rights of neighbours to formally object to or appeal most development applications.

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