$24m plans lodged for twin seven-storey residential buildings in Prospect

The massive second stage of a multimillion dollar residential development has been approved despite failing to win support of the local council.

A $24m residential development in Prospect has been approved despite objection from the local council, labelling it a “lost opportunity” to provide affordable housing, application documents reveal.

Eminent Homes Pty Ltd’s plans for two, seven-storey residential flat buildings and 18, three-storey “row style dwellings” at 250 Churchill Rd were approved last week by the State Commission Assessment Panel.

It is the second stage of the larger 1838 Prospect redevelopment, with 60 three-storey town houses and a five-storey residential flat building either constructed or under construction to the south of the site, under phase one.

It will be built in an urban corridor zone which prefers “affordable and student housing”.

Eminent Homes had promised “affordable housing product”, although “not via the scheme administered by the SA Housing Authority”, documents reveal.

Prospect Council says the development is a “lost opportunity” for affordable housing. Picture: Eminent Homes Pty Ltd

However, Prospect Council’s planning staff had concerns with the plan and “does not support many elements of the proposal in its current form”, documents show.

“It is recommended that SCAP give further consideration to whether the development in its current form would achieve the objectives for affordable housing,” the council submitted to the panel.

“Affordable housing is targeted at households whose income is described as low to moderate.

“The applicant advises that the development includes … 10 one-bedroom dwellings with a price point that would meet the nominated affordable housing price of $422,050.

“These dwellings represent approximately 10.9 per cent of all dwellings within the development.”

It also had issues with the lack of variety in dwelling sizes and the range in the number of bedrooms per property.

“A development proposing 138 new dwellings that only provide one or two bedrooms floor plans would be a lost opportunity for accommodating for a range of housing to meet community needs,” the council submitted.

The plan includes 18 three-storey developments. Picture: Eminent Homes Pty Ltd

The applicant submitted the development did not provide affordable housing “as defined by the South Australian Housing Trust Regulations 2010”.

“However, the proposed development does provide for mix of dwelling sizes including both one and two bedroom dwellings within the development,” consultant Masterplan submitted on behalf of the applicant.

“The proposed residential component of the use will provide a full range of housing types to service a broad cross-section of the community.”

The development site (in blue) is proposed for the north of phase one, part of a wider housing project. Picture: Eminent Homes Pty Ltd

Department planning officer Karl Woehle said while the proposal had a shortfall in visitor carparking “in the range of 13 to 30 spaces”, it could be addressed with nearby transport options.

Mr Woehle stated the development was “appropriate in this city-fringe location” and all apartments had “access to natural light … and are generously proportioned”.