Planning approval granted for $250 million project on former Le Cornu site at North Adelaide

The tallest building outside of the Adelaide CBD has been given approval, ending a 30-year saga to redevelop the former Le Cornu site at North Adelaide.

Architect's render of the proposed apartments at 88 O'Connell Street. Picture: Commercial & General

Planning consent has been granted for a $250m development on the former Le Cornu site at North Adelaide.

The State Commission Assessment Panel has approved the construction of three apartment towers above two levels of retail, hospitality and commercial space at 88 O’Connell St.

The tallest tower of 15 storeys will become the highest building outside of the Adelaide CBD, while the other two will be 13 levels high.

North Adelaide residents opposed to the joint venture project between Adelaide City Council and property developer Commercial & General have expressed disappointment at the decision.

Many attended a SCAP meeting on Wednesday, when representatives objected to the size and height of the development, arguing it would create overshadowing.

They also claimed the development would adversely affect the heritage character of North Adelaide.

Architect’s render of the proposed development by Commercial & General at 88 O'Connell Street. Picture: Supplied

Among those who spoke were former Adelaide city councillors Susan Clearihan and Sandy Wilkinson.

In its decision, SCAP found the project was “not seriously at variance with the City of Adelaide Development Plan”.

However, it reserved issuing final planning approval until a detailed landscaping plan was provided for assessment, including more detail on a proposed open-air space above the two-level podium.

SCAP also wanted Commercial & General to provide the Office for Design and Architecture with a “final material palette and samples board demonstrating use of high quality, durable materials” on exteriors of the buildings.

This was part of a “refinement of architectural expression of the podium, including facade treatments, to provide a more fine grain, contextual response to the street frontages of the building”.

Architect renders of the proposed apartments at 88 O'Connell Street. Picture: Commercial & General

Other planning conditions involved waste management, minimising wind tunnels, stormwater drainage, adequate lighting, noise abatement measures and public access from 7am to 1am seven days a week.

The council’s acting city shaping director, Tom McCready, said the issues identified by SCAP would be “reviewed and actioned accordingly” by Commercial & General.

“This approval now provides the developer with the certainty required to proceed to initiate their sales and leasing campaign,” he said.

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said she wanted to congratulate everyone involved in the project, known as Eighty Eight O’Connell, on reaching “such a significant milestone”.

“It has taken a great deal of hard work over many years and we are now much closer to seeing this iconic site being brought back to life,” she said.

“Eighty Eight O’Connell will only serve to make North Adelaide an even more attractive destination, revitalising the O’Connell St precinct.

Ms Verschoor said she was looking forward to a display apartment opening later this year before Commercial & General started site works early next year.

The company’s executive chairman, Jamie McClurg, said the SCAP decision represented a “watershed moment for North Adelaide”.

“North Adelaide is ready for change and this approval reinforces Adelaide’s credentials as a world-class city,” he said.

Architect’s render of the proposed development by Commercial & General at 88 O'Connell Street. Picture: Supplied

Mr McClurg said there was “strong interest” from residential and commercial markets in the project.

“We are being very deliberate in our approach with an absolute focus on quality at what is arguably Adelaide’s best location and that is resonating,” he said.

A spokesman for a North Adelaide residents group, Robert Farnan, said there were many people “deeply disappointed” by the SCAP decision.

“North Adelaide residents and business owners put large amounts of time into consultative sessions with the previous council to develop the guiding principles, which recommended a maximum of eight levels on the site.”

“Residents feel deeply betrayed that those principles were almost totally discarded by the current Team Adelaide-led council.”

The approval of the project follows unsuccessful attempts to redevelop the 7560sq m site over the past three decades.