Payneham Road Schweppes factory site should not be rezoned for five storeys, council says
A plan to allow five-storey buildings on the old Schweppes site has been panned by the local council, which says it’s too high.
East, Inner Suburbs & Hills
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A prominent Payneham site where a planned development was this year thwarted by a one-man court battle should not be rezoned to allow five-storey buildings, a council says.
The State Government has released a development plan amendment for public consultation which would rezone the old Schweppes factory on Payneham Road as an “urban corridor” area.
It would allow the block to be developed for commercial and retail use on the ground floor and medium density housing above to a maximum of five storeys.
If a development included at least 15 per cent affordable housing, the height limit could be increased to seven storeys.
The amendment follows a series of development applications for the site being knocked back by Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council and the courts.
A report by NP&SP staff said there was “limited rationale” provided for why a five-storey height should be allowed at the site.
The council has provided provisional support to rezoning the land, but will make a submission asking for the height limit to be reduced to four storeys and for any buildings to be set further back from surrounding streets.
It will also ask for information on how development of the site could affect its surrounds.
The land is current zoned for light industrial use, in line with its history as a soft drink factory – but most of the land around it is residential.
According to the DPA, the land would be ideal for a bulky goods or homemaker centre, as well as a small supermarket and restaurant.
An approved development at the old Schweppes site – which would have included six outlets selling or hiring boats, caravans, sheds, marquees, building materials and swimming pool equipment – was thrown out by a court earlier this year.
The Environment, Resources and Development Court overturned the government development panel’s approval following a one-man challenge by a nearby resident.
Commissioner Alan Rumsby found the development was “at such variance from the pertinent Development Plan provisions” that it should not have been approved.
