Norwood $100m eight-level tower plan for The Parade to feature 69 apartments, shops and offices

This 60m-long, eight-storey tower will overwhelm the premier eastern suburbs retail strip, according to the local council. See the concept drawings.

Australasian Property Developments $100m-plus development proposal at 120 The Parade, Norwood. Supplied by Cheesman Architects

An eight-storey apartment, office and retail development planned for one of Adelaide’s premier shopping strips will “loom large” and is unlike anything ever seen in the area, according to the local council.

Norwood Payneham & St Peters Council has raised concerns about the “sheer scale” of a $100 million-plus building proposed by Adelaide-based Australasian Property Developments for 120 The Parade, Norwood.

But the company says the “carefully designed” property is the future of development in Adelaide.

The building would stretch 60m between Church Ave and Osmond Tce and require partial demolition of four local heritage-listed shops, according to a council heritage report.

The building would feature 69 two and three bedroom apartments, 3470 sqm of shops and 2630 sqm of office space.

In a submission to the State Planning Commission the council’s urban planning general manager Carlos Buzzetti said the project would add to the “vitality and vibrancy” of the suburb.

Australasian Property Developments $100m-plus development proposal at 120 The Parade, Norwood. Supplied by Cheesman Architects

But he said the council wanted the building height reduced “such that the overall intensity and mass of the development is more akin to its main street setting and surrounding built form”.

“The extent of the building mass, height and development yield currently proposed is excessive and will lead to a development that will ‘loom large’ within its main street setting and detract from, rather than enhance, the amenity of the locality,” he wrote.

“Furthermore, there is nothing of the proposed scale in a single building anywhere near this site in Norwood.

“The attempt at articulating the facade with different balconies, materials and finishes partially assists with breaking down the form visually at close inspection, but the building is over 60m long making it the longest single building facing The Parade.”

Australasian Property Developments $100m-plus development proposal at 120 The Parade, Norwood as viewed from Osmond Terrace. Supplied by Cheesman Architects

A separate heritage report “commended” the developers for retaining the shopfronts of the heritage properties and the retention and “adaptive reuse” of two historic church halls on Church Ave.

But it said the building’s size “completely ignores its context”.

APD is behind the $110 million 30,500 sqm redevelopment of the Coles Norwood shopping precinct, dubbed COMO, which includes twin eight-level apartment towers.

Company managing director Pep Rocca, responding to the council concerns, said the company had worked with a heritage architect to “maintain” and “embrace” the heritage of the site “while creating a brand-new development that there is huge local demand for”.

“On the back of the unprecedented success of COMO we have identified a specific product shortage in Norwood and we already have significant market demand already for this type of living,” he told The Advertiser.

“Like every place in the world, demand dictates the evolution of places. Norwood is definitely ready for this, just ask the people on the waiting list.”

He anticipated the State Commission Assessment Panel would grant necessary approvals in the “next couple of months” with apartment sales to start in May.

The entrance to the building from Church Ave. The existing church halls would be restored and reused. Supplied by Cheesman Architects

The project will include 3700 sqm of shops on the ground floor, first floor offices and apartments above. Supplied by Cheesman Architects

Asked if development higher than the six storeys should be encouraged on The Parade, Mr Rocca said the building had met “all other guidelines” and had been “carefully designed based on the location and its surrounds, minimising impact on surrounding neighbours”.

“Norwood, being a premier high street location is definitely ready for this particular type of development – which is encouraged in every other major city in Australia,” he said. “This is the future of living and people are desperate in Adelaide for it.”

Recent multistorey apartment developments completed on The Parade include the six-storey Bath Apartments and the five-storey Nuova Apartments.