27 Mar Case Study: Parkdale Townhouse Development
Using Strategic Direction For a Favourable Outcome
The Proposal
The project was for the construction of four townhouses, with a mixture of double and triple storey townhouses. The site is located on busy Nepean Highway, within a residential area, but close to nearby shops and commercial uses.
The Journey
This site had an interesting history. A previous planning permit had been granted for the site for a three storey apartment building. This proposal had been originally refused and had also received a number of neighbour objections. Ultimately the proposal was approved by VCAT following a merits hearing. The planning permit was still current when the new application was submitted.
We hadn’t been involved in the original project, and so approached the application with fresh eyes, while also considering the previous approval.
One thing in our favour since the previous planning permit was that as part of Planning Scheme Amendment C203 the strategic direction for the area was revised with a higher order zone proposed for the site. While this amendment hadn’t yet been approved, it nonetheless made justification and support for triple storey townhouses easier.
During the initial assessment of the application the Council raised concerns about the built form and impact of the development on the character of the area. We prepared a detailed photographic and written response that demonstrated that the proposal was an appropriate proposal for the site and area. While the scale and form of the proposal was greater than currently existed in the immediate area, we were able to demonstrate that it was in keeping with higher order developments in the wider area and justifiable with consideration of the strategic direction for the site. With this additional information the Council progressed the application to the advertising stage.
The advertising stage was completed with no neighbour objections.
The Outcome
Approximately 6 months after the application was lodged, the Kingston Council approved the planning permit. The Council approved the original design with no reductions or changes to the townhouses required. A relatively fast and excellent result for our clients!
If you’ve got a development planned, we’d love to assist you in achieving a great outcome like we did for this Parkdale project. Contact us today.