Eastern residents oppose $48m Bunnings store planned for Glynde

Residents are trying to stop a new Bunnings planned for a derelict block in the eastern suburbs – arguing it is “devoid of architectural merit”.

Plans for a two-storey Bunnings store with nearly 300 car parks has triggered opposition from residents, concerned it is “too large” for the area and will create “rat running” in the streets.

The hardware chain lodged $48m plans with Payneham, Norwood & St Peters Council’s assessment panel proposing to build the store on vacant land in Glynde where the majority of buildings were demolished in 2019.

The plan would gobble up around 31 on-street parking places for necessary roadworks to deal with increased traffic volumes and “projected queues”.

Bunnings has lodged $48m plans for a new store in Glynde. Picture: Bunnings

However, 14 residents have raised concerns with traffic congestion on Glynburn Rd, “rat running” and heavy vehicles in residential streets and the size of the development.

“There is no need for another hardware store in this location,” one resident submitted to the panel. There is a large Mitre 10 store just a few hundred metres away on the corner of Glynburn Rd and Montacute Rd.

“The building is devoid of architectural merit and is too large,” another said.

A further six residents supported the plan but “with concerns”, a panel report revealed.

Around 31 on-street car parks would be removed from surrounding streets – despite a “high demand for on-street parking” in the area – due to proposed road works, including a signalised intersection at the junction of Penna Ave and Glynburn Rd.

The proposed $48m Bunnings site has been vacant for several years. Picture: Google Maps

It also involves a left turn lane on the southern approach to the intersection and the extension of the right hand turn lane on Glynburn Rd to accommodate “projected queues”, providing a “minimum 65m of storage”.

“On street parking will effectively be lost on both sides of Penna Ave between the proposed main access point to the Bunnings car park and Glynburn Rd,” it revealed.

However, the plan could allow staff and visitors of nearby businesses to use on site parking, with 292 proposed spaces to be accessed from Penna and Provident avenues.

Large delivery vehicles would only enter from Glynburn Rd and not use residential streets, council staff say.

An existing bus stop on Glynburn Rd would also be relocated.

Residents are concerned the Bunnings store, at land bounded by Penna Ave and Glynburn Rd, will increase traffic in the area.

The application comes after two previous plans were rejected by the panel in May 2017 and January 2018.

However, the new Planning and Design Code replaced the council’s development plan as the “relevant instrument for the assessment of development applications”.

“This resulted in the subject land being zoned Employment Zone instead of Light Industry Zone,” the report found.

Bunnings property and store development director, Andrew Marks, said the new store would create more than 100 ongoing jobs and around 130 during construction.

Artist impression of a $48m Bunnings proposed has lodged $48m plans for a new store in Glynde.

“We believe the Glynde site is well positioned for a Bunnings store that will provide residents living in the area with a much wider range of home and lifestyle products,” Mr Marks said.

“The Glynde store would be constructed with two levels of retail and would feature a main warehouse, an outdoor nursery, a timber yard and contained, underground parking for nearly 300 cars.

“We have been working closely with the relevant authorities throughout the development application process, and we look forward to learning the outcome of the application in due course.”

The panel will assess the application this week.