‘Unley, we really listening to you’: Council instructs planning staff to amend high-rise housing plan
A BACKLASH from residents is set to force a local council to scale-back its plan for high-rise housing in the heart of a district long celebrated for its character. Here are the likely concessions.
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A BACKLASH from residents is set to force Unley Council to scale-back its plan for high-rise housing in the heart of the district.
Unley Mayor Lachlan Clyne said the council “had listened to responses from the community” and was “highly likely” to reduce proposed new building height limits for Unley Rd, between Marion and Thomas streets.
Mr Clyne would not be drawn on specific changes to the plan, but the Eastern Courier Messenger understands an 11-storey height limit earmarked for the Unley Shopping Centre would be reduced, in parts, to eight storeys.
Development on the Unley Civic Centre precinct was expected to be capped at six storeys, rather than eight, and greater protection would be guaranteed for The Village Green, under the revised plan.
Residents have rallied against the Unley Central Precinct Development Plan Amendment since the council announced it last year, fearing the push to create room for 500 new homes in the district would ruin the character of the area.
More than 100 locals packed an Unley Council meeting last month to voice concerns about the proposal, and almost all 300 respondents to public consultation rejected the high-rise plan.
Friends of The City of Unley Society president Ros Islip was last week “pleased” the council would scale-back the plan.
But Mrs Islip was concerned the changes would not go far enough, saying three to five-storey developments would be more appropriate for Unley.
“And we remain of the view that there should not be any development on The Village Green,” Mrs Islip said.
The Eastern Courier Messenger understands Unley councillors met on December 14 and instructed senior planning staff to amend the plan in light of the public backlash.
Mr Clyne last week said the revised plan would be presented to a council committee on February 13, before it was debated at a full council meeting two weeks later.
It would then be submitted to state Planning Minister John Rau for final approval.
Mr Clyne said consultation on the council’s plan to find a private developer to build up to 150 apartments behind Unley Town Hall would not start until Mr Rau approved the new height limits.