Four apartments projects approved for Prospect but another deemed too big for Churchill Rd

THE surge of new apartment buildings across the Prospect Council district will continue, following the approval of four more developments.

THE surge of new apartment buildings across the Prospect Council district will continue, following the approval of four more developments.

But the council has raised concerns about plans for other, larger apartment developments, arguing they are too big and have the potential to ruin the area’s streetscapes.

The council’s assessment panel this week gave the green light to apartment buildings at 235 Prospect Rd, 308-310 Prospect Rd, 89 Churchill Rd and 77 Gloucester St (just off Main North Rd).

The developments will range from three to five-storeys and include a total of 39 apartments.

Residents were not consulted on the applications, which were in line with the council’s development rules.

A 55-apartment development at 244-248 Churchill Rd, which Prospect Council says is too big.

At the same meeting, the panel advised the State Government’s planning authority to reject an application for a 55-apartment building at 244-248 Churchill Rd because of its “excessive mass and bulk”, lack of setbacks and lack of open space.

A final decision on that project is yet to be made.

Prospect Residents Association president Elizabeth Crisp said it was “terrible” that neighbours were not consulted on all apartment developments. She said people would be surprised when signs went up advertising apartments for sale next door to their homes.

“People should be able to comment on stuff like that because it can have an enormous negative impact on their quality of life,” Ms Crisp said.

A house at 40 Castle Ave, Prospect, up for demolition.

The council’s assessment panel deferred making a decision on an apartment complex at 40 Castle Ave (on the corner of Churchill Rd) to seek more information from the applicant.

Meanwhile, the developers of a 116-apartment building at 75 North East Rd, Collinswood, called Diplomat Apartments has had their deadline to start work on the project extended another year until July 2018.

The 360 Degrees Prospect project at the corner of Main North Rd and Nottage Tce has been abandoned.

VR Group had wanted to build 42 serviced apartments and 28 residential apartments opposite Scotty’s Motel.

The site of the proposed Diplomat Apartments at 75 North East Rd, Collinswood.

Prospect Council is also urging Planning Minister John Rau to approve stricter design rules for apartment buildings on Churchill, Prospect and Main North roads.

The rules, endorsed by the council last month, focus on the design and scale of buildings, the quality of materials they are constructed from and the protection of neighbours’ privacy.

Mayor David O’Loughlin said they would ensure regulations “with real teeth, not weasel words”.

“We want words like ‘could’, ‘might’ and ‘should’ to be replaced with ‘must’ and ‘will’,” Mr O’Loughlin said.

It is understood Mr Rau will approve the new regulations by the end of the year.