The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has ordered a planning permit be granted to stage one of the Fender Katsalidis and Oculus-designed Malt District development, after it previously ordered a redesign.
The 1.4-hectare development is situated in Cremorne on the edge of the Yarra River and incorporates the historic concrete silos where Melbourne’s iconic heritage-listed Nylex Clock currently sits.
The project proposes to deliver up to 1,000 new dwellings over three stages. Stage one of the project was to include an 18-storey tower, a 13-storey tower, six three- to four-storey office buildings, shops, a supermarket and 258 apartments.
In March 2016, the tribunal raised concerns about the proposed height of the towers as well as the high proportion (80 percent) of one-bedroom apartments proposed in stage one.
VCAT’s interim order required the developer Caydon to reduce the height of the towers, the number of one-bedroom apartments as well as the number of car parks.
The developer has complied with the interim order, resubmitting its proposal and reducing the towers to 15 and 12 storeys respectively, as well as reducing the number of apartments to 215 (108 one-bedroom, 89 two-bedroom, 12 three-bedroom and six Soho-style apartments). This reduces the concentration of one-bedroom apartments from 80 percent to 50 percent.
In January this year, Heritage Victoria rejected the proposed development, in part because the development could have a negative impact on views of the heritage-listed Nylex Clock.
The developer has launched an appeal against the rejection and will now await Heritage Victoria’s decision following submissions.
In June, the City of Yarra rejected a planning application for stage two of the development.
