Kingston WIN News site to be transformed into high-rise apartments

The development application for apartments on the old WIN News site in Kingston will be lodged this week. Locals say the new design is a “dramatic” improvement on the previous one.

WIN News’ former TV studio in Kingston is set to be transformed into 134 apartments.

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The development application for 134 apartments on the old WIN News site at Kingston is set to be lodged iminently as residents welcome the revised designs for the project.

The joint venture behind the Wentworth Ave development went back to the drawing board after locals raised concerns with overshadowing, privacy and height when the original development application was lodged in 2016.

A representative of the joint venture said the new design delivered the impression of three discrete, linked buildings rather than one large mass.

Residents have welcomed the revised design.

“The proposal will transform the sites of two well-known Canberra buildings, while referencing the original Maggie Shepherd building and taking design inspiration from the fashion icon’s patchwork palette,” she said.

Stewart Architects as part of a larger team have delivered more facilities including a common kitchen and dining area opening into a large garden, which will have a large area for deep root planting while incorporating the building’s classical columns into pergolas.

The building is still seven stories but overshadowing of neighbouring sites has been reduced.

Kingston and Barton Residents Group committee member Richard Johnston, who was not speaking on behalf of the group, said he was “impressed” by the new proposal.

Other landscape works will include the reinstatement of the original tree planting rhythm along Wentworth Ave.

“It’s been dramatically changed for the better in my view,” he said.

“I think the developer must have realised they didn’t have a good scheme, which was built right up to street front and had units looking into each other.”

Mr Johnston, a retired town planner, welcomed the provision for deep root tree planting which he said would be a “bonus” for neighbours who were facing the prospect of looking onto people’s balconies under the previous design.

Mr Johnston said the seven storey height could still be a bit “controversial” in the community although setbacks had been introduced to alleviate concerns.

Pre-sales will commence in the third quarter of this year.

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