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New CBD rules clamp down on excessive skyscraper heights and densities

09 Sep 2015 - Four C Realty

Melbourne's surge of extremely tall and crowded skyscrapers will be reined in by the Andrews government under strict new planning rules for the central city.

The changes are set to anger developers whose city towers have soared to unprecedented heights in recent years.
 
Under the laws brought in by Planning Minister Richard Wynne, the crammed streetscapes allowed by his predecessor Matthew Guy – who earned the nickname "Mr Skyscraper" in his time as minister.
 
These buildings would not pass: Tower on the corner of Elizabeth and A’Beckett streets.
These buildings would not pass: Tower on the corner of Elizabeth and A’Beckett streets. Photo: James Boddington
 
New density restrictions are likely to significantly reduce the height of Melbourne's future towers. If a developer built to the borders of their block, they would now be restricted to 24 floors. Alternatively they could choose to go higher, but would need to provide offsets such as open space.
 
The new interim laws – which came into force at midnight on Friday – will remain active for a year before permanent controls are introduced in September 2016 following public consultation.
 
They are the most significant change to planning rules made by Labor since they came to office and would have prevented the approval of many CBD towers recently given a permit, such as the 68-floor tower at the Savoy Tavern site.
 
280 Little Lonsdale
Street.
280 Little Lonsdale Street. Photo: James Boddington
 
The new density rule means if Melbourne's soon-to-be tallest building "Australia 108" was planned today, it could only reach about 43-storeys, as opposed to the 100 storeys and 317 metres already approved.
Otherwise the developers of the skyscraper would have to buy up a block more than twice the size of the existing site (much of which would not be built on) or create a much skinnier tower.
 
Tower on the corner of Elizabeth and Therry streets.
Tower on the corner of Elizabeth and Therry streets. Photo: James Boddington
 
Meanwhile the government will introduce mandatory height limits in parts of the CBD and bring in clear rules dictating the distance that must be allowed between towers.
 
A scathing report completed earlier this year by a senior Melbourne City Council officer found that apartment towers in central Melbourne were being built at four times the maximum densities allowed in some of the world's most crowded cities.
 
This included Hong Kong, New York and Tokyo. 
 
Future developments in the central city will be allowed a plot ratio of only 24 to 1.
 
Mr Wynne said most of the provisions in the current planning laws for central Melbourne were more than 30 years old.
 
"There hasn't been a significant update since 1999," he said. "It's clear that this review is needed to ensure the planning scheme responds to the current scale and density of development occurring in our city."
 
 
The above is an extract from: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/new-cbd-rules-clamp-down-on-excessive-skyscraper-heights-and-densities-20150903-gjersp.html
 
Four C Realty
Caroline He