Proposed $350m Burnside Village redevelopment boots cinema for 24-hour gym

Amended plans for the long-awaited shopping centre redevelopment have revealed drastic changes in what is a sad day for cinema lovers. See the new designs.

Long-standing plans to redevelop Burnside Village have taken a dramatic turn with developers of the $350m project lodging alterations to the original proposition.

Plans first introduced in early 2019 presented the possibility of a cinema for the redeveloped site, but the latest changes reveal the originally mooted cinema had made way for a 24-hour “gym and lifestyle facility”.

An imposing seven-storey “office tower” on the corner of Greenhill and Portrush roads and a proposed medical centre have also been shelved with owner the Cohen Group opting for an “upmarket” three-storey equipped with a golden facade instead.

Artist impression of the updated plans for Burnside Village on the corner of Greenhill Rd and Sydney St. Picture: Cohen Group

The approvals were presented at Tuesday night’s Burnside Council meeting by group chief executive Gregg Downer, project planner Brenton Burman and family member Andrew Cohen.

Mr Downer said the removal of the cinema had come as a result to changing attitudes towards the movies.

“There will not be cinemas in this new proposed development. This is as a consequence of the change in the entertainment industry and we’re looking more directed towards lifestyle,” Mr Downer said.

Mr Burman said the variation application was “very similar” to the original application supported by council and approved by the State Commission Assessment Panel in 2019.

With the office tower plan aborted, the new artist impressions highlighted a “large glazed atrium diagrid roof” spanning much of the shopping mall.

Artist impression of the updated plans for Burnside Village from Portrush Rd. Picture: Cohen Group

Mr Burman said the “feature” roof was designed to reflect the iconic glass roof village shoppers had become familiar with.

The amendment would also see a reduction of 45 car parks from the original proposition and the removal of an established river red gum tree valued by the council at $160,000.

The development was halted in April 2020 with the owners citing difficulties stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic as the cause.

Demolition works had already started about a month before, but it was at that point construction was ceased.

Artist impression of the updated plans for Burnside Village from Portrush Rd. Picture: Cohen Group

That was until April last year when the owners were inspired to revitalise and reboot the expansion and discussed the prospects of development alterations being put forward before the end of 2021, with construction hoped to begin by January.

Rumblings from the flattened site then foreshadowed the council meeting presentation despite the Cohen Group laying low about the changes in the lead up.

The plans were presented to council as it considered affixing a common seal of council to a new land management agreement stemming from the development amendments with a vote expected at a future meeting.