More homes mean more opportunity – that’s why the Allan Labor Government is approving more homes in Melbourne’s inner suburbs, so young people, families and downsizers have the choice to live closer to public transport and services, and areas where they grew up.
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny has used her powers to fast track the development of a five-storey apartment building at 173 Burke Road and a three-storey apartment building on adjacent land at 28 Hope Street in Glen Iris.
Significant design changes were made to the original plans following a Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruling, including a new architectural design, reducing the height from six to five storeys, adding an adjacent development at 28 Hope Street, and reducing the number of apartments from 80 to 60.
The approval was given under the Development Facilitation Program, an accelerated assessment pathway that fast-tracks well planned projects to help boost investment, keep people in jobs and create more homes for Victorians, including affordable housing.
Located near Wattletree Road, the Glen Iris development will have 60 apartments, including ten per cent affordable housing, and a supermarket at ground level on Burke Road.
In addition, a proposed bottle shop was removed, loading bay access was relocated from Hope Street to Burke Road and upper-level setbacks were increased to reduce overshadowing of neighbouring properties.
An underground car park will have 290 spaces for shoppers and residents, and a new signalised intersection will be installed at the intersection of Burke Road and Hope Street to help keep traffic flowing smoothly.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics show Victoria continues to see the highest number of new homes approved for construction than any other state or territory.
As stated by Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny
“Unlike the local Liberal Party member Michael O’Brien, we believe that suburbs like Glen Iris shouldn’t be locked up they should be opened up.”
“We’ll work with councils to make good decisions faster, but we can’t allow Liberal and Greens-led councils to block good quality and affordable homes close to public transport and services.”
“We need more homes in suburbs like Glen Iris, so that more young people, families and downsizers have the opportunity to rent or buy a place that’s directly connected to public transport and services.”
