Edge Visionary Living will add 1.95 metres to its 224-dwelling, 16-storey Applecross development, despite council opposition.
Apartment developer Edge Visionary Living has received approval for changes to the height and configuration of apartments at its proposed $110 million Applecross apartment complex, despite council opposition.
The development, at the corner of Canning Beach Road and Moreau Mews in Applecross, was first approved in December 2019 as a three-tower, 15-storey complex comprising 220 apartments.
A revised development application was approved in April last year for an extra four apartments, as well as reconfigurations to the layouts of the apartments and commercial tenancies.
At the time, the metropolitan inner-south joint development assessment panel considered these amendments minor as they “did not materially affect the external appearance of the building”.
Further changes to the development application were submitted to the City of Melville earlier this month, including a 1.95 metre height increase to the towers, which involved incremental height additions to each floor and an increased podium height of 45 centimetres.
The application also proposes removing the mezzanine floors in two of the towers and replacing them with a full level, resulting in those towers being reclassified as 16 storeys.
The City of Melville recommended the JDAP refuse the amendments, on the basis that there may be a need for finality and community certainty, the extent of the added community benefit was not clear and that the increased overshadowing negatively impacted local amenity.
Neighbouring resident Mike Burns argued in today’s JDAP that the proposed development adversely impacted on surrounding residents and its increase in height was not proportional to its proposed community benefits.
He said the proposal had turned his home, along Moreau Mews, into a “stranded asset” because he could not sell it, despite trying.
City of Melville presiding member Rachel Chapman said while it was unfortunate such developments required amendments, it was commonplace throughout the life of an application for changes to be made.
She said each component of the amendments had been carefully considered and assessed by the city’s planning officers, and voted in favour of the changes.
An aerial render of the proposed development.
JDAP member and Hassell principal Peter Lee also expressed his support for the project, describing the changes as “not material in nature”.
The JDAP voted in favour of the revised application, three votes to two.
Edge Visionary Living managing director Gavin Hawkins told Business News he expected construction of these apartments to commence next month.
A builder is yet to be announced for the project.
Hillam Architects designed the development and Rowe Group conducted the town planning.
