Stricter design standards for Prospect apartments approved by Planning Minister John Rau

THE State Government has approved a raft of planning controls to “improve the appearance of new developments” in the inner north after community outcry.

A five-storey apartment building approved for 117 Prospect Rd. Source: State Planning Commission

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STRICTER design standards will be imposed on new apartment blocks on Prospect, Churchill and Main North roads to stop more ugly buildings popping up in the inner north.

Planning Minister John Rau last week approved a raft of planning controls to “improve the appearance of new developments” on the thoroughfares.

The decision came as plans for a five-storey apartment, office and retail block on Prospect Rd were given the green light, adding to the almost $70 million in development on the strip in the past five years.

The design rules — which have been on trial since May — include provisions to reduce housing density, limit overlooking and overshadowing, increase “audio and visual” privacy for neighbours and encourage more ground floor activity.

Prospect Council proposed the changes amid widespread concern about the poor quality of apartments that have sprung up since the State Government raised building height limits on Prospect, Churchill and Main North roads in 2013.

More than $180 million worth of multistorey developments have been approved for the three streets in that time, including 41 projects on Churchill Rd and 22 on Prospect Rd.

Prospect Mayor David O’Loughlin was pleased Mr Rau had responded to the community’s concerns.

“We’ve always wanted the very best for Prospect and these rules are now the best in the state for medium-rise development,” Mr O’Loughlin said.

Prospect Residents’ Association president Elizabeth Crisp said the new rules were a “step in the right direction”.

But she was concerned that developers would continue to “cram in as many apartments as possible”, creating problems with carparking and traffic congestion.

“With all these development that are being built, you have to wonder how on earth it is all going to fit,” Ms Crisp said.

The State Planning Commission last week approved Bert Farina Construction’s plans for a five-storey development at 117 Prospect Rd, opposite the Coles supermarket.

The project includes a 38-space basement carpark, ground floor shops and offices and 33 apartments.