Eight-storey apartment plan on Oxford St

A $15 million eight-storey apartment block has been proposed on Oxford Street, exceeding the local height limit in Mount Hawthorn.

Landowner Thirty Three and development manager Parcel Property are proposing to build an eight-storey development on the corner of Oxford Street and Anzac Road.

The development proposal comprises of 36 apartments, three car parking levels and 285 square metres of commercial floor space.

The City of Vincent’s local planning framework limits developments in the area to five storeys.

In its assessment of the coding submitted to the city, the applicant justified the eight-storey proposal.

“While it is acknowledged that the proposed height exceeds the acceptable outcome, the upper levels of the building have been setback from both the street and boundaries from the levels below,” it said.

“The Local Planning Strategy identifies the need to facilitate high density development along major roads to respond to the growing demand for high quality multiple dwelling developments in well serviced areas and to provide the opportunity for medium to high density residential development and commercial uses along Oxford Street.

“The height to the north and east has been considered in terms of the built form and amenity to the adjoining properties and significant landscaping elements have been incorporated into the design.

“It also needs to be acknowledged that the adjoining site to the east, while still zoned residential, is a consulting room with little residential amenity.”

The site is an area of 1,207 square metres and currently contains two single storey buildings, which would be demolished if the proposal is approved.

The application, prepared by PTS town planning with designs by Plus Architecture, said the development aimed to be an “identifiable entry” to the Mount Hawthorn District Centre.

“The development provides adaptable commercial tenancies at ground level which can cater for a variety of land uses,” the application said.

“One of the key outcomes of the proposed development is to create a landscaped transition to the east through extensive planting at various levels of the development.”

The city is seeking community feedback on the proposal on its website, which will end on July 13.