12-storey tower ‘too tall’ for Thebarton, State Government panel says.

PLANS for a 12-storey tower at the site of the former E.G. Wigg envelope factory on Port Rd have been knocked back, casting doubt over the future of the project.

Artist impression of proposed redeveloped of 79 Port Rd. Source: State Planning Commission

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FRESH plans for a 12-storey tower in Thebarton have been knocked back, casting doubt over the future of the project.

The State Commission Assessment Panel last week refused PRD Project Management’s bid to redevelop Port Rd’s former E.S. Wigg and Son’s envelope factory with 124 apartments, 28 townhouses and 231 carparks.

Minutes from the panel’s meeting, which was held behind closed doors, showed it rejected the proposal on the basis it “substantially exceeded” the area’s eight-storey limit and would conflict with the adjacent State Heritage-Listed Southwark Hotel.

Long distances to lifts and communal open space would also result in “poor residential amenity”, according to the minutes outlining the panel’s decision.

The decision to refuse an application is somewhat of a rare occurrence for the State Government’s planning authority, with The Advertiser last year reporting it had approved more than 98 per cent of all applications since 2012.

The ruling is the latest hurdle for the project, which was to be the first high-rise apartment development to capitalise on the government’s move in 2013 to raise building height limits on Port Rd.

The developer last year won approval for a 10-storey development at the 7000sq m former envelope factory site.

The site of the former EG Wigg and Son factory at 79 Port Rd, Thebarton. Pic: Tricia Watkinson

The $120 million complex was to include a microbrewery and cafe, as well as a central plaza and garden for residents.

But that proposal never eventuated because of “constraints … related to the viability of an underground carpark,” according to State Planning Commission documents.

Revised plans for the site — which did not include an updated dollar figure — were put to the panel in December, but a decision was deferred to give the developer time to tweak the design.

A Planning Department report last week noted the request had largely been ignored, however the project should still be approved because its “shortcomings” did not “fatally outweigh” the benefits of what was an “acceptable” development.

Planning firm Intro, which prepared the application on behalf of PRD Project Management, directed T he Advertiser’s inquiries to their client, who are yet to respond.