Glandore development heights changed from three to eight storeys after ‘error’ in new planning code

Eight Anzac Highway properties could legally stand up to 20m higher after a planning mistake was discovered. And their neighbours would have no say in it.

The development height limit on eight pieces of prime Adelaide property have been increased by 20m after an “error” was discovered in the new planning code.

The properties, on Anzac Highway in Glandore, had their maximum height increased from three to eight stories – their old limit prior to the new planning code introduced in March – through a rule in the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act that allows the Planning Minister to make “minor amendments” to planning laws.

It does not require any public consultation.

The eight properties, between South Rd and Beckman St, include an OTR service station, a lighting store and a number of residential properties.

The new planning and design code reduced their maximum development height from eight to three storeys – a change for which West Torrens Council had lobbied.

The blocks next to them are still limited to a maximum of three storeys.

The limit is designed to protect the Glandore Character Area behind Anzac Highway, which the Planning and Design Code describes as comprising predominantly of 1920s-1940s bungalows.

A state government spokesman said the reduction from eight to three storeys had been an “error”.

West Torrens councillor John Woodward. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“It was intended that all existing height limits would be reflected in the new code, however, in this case, the limit was unintentionally lowered from eight to three storeys,” the spokesman said.

“A landowner identified this mistake, notified the state government, and the error has now been corrected.”

However, West Torrens councillor John Woodward believed the height limit increase was “overreach” because it was “making a significant change to potential development through a suburb”.

Mr Woodward said he would ask his council to write to the state government to ask who initiated the change, why it was made under the rule that allowed for “minor amendments” and what consideration was given to previous commitments to limit the strip to three storeys.

“In my opinion, it just seems odd that you could have an extensive consultation process and agree to something and three months after that, it gets changed,” Mr Woodward said.

“The impact is not small.

“If the government is able to use (the exemption in the act) in this way, there’s probably potential for them to use it in other parts of Adelaide to make what they regard as minor operational changes but the community don’t.”