Victor St, Chatswood: developers ignore council rejection for 48-storey high-rise

Mirvac has bypassed a council rejection on a controversial plan for a 48-storey skyscraper in North Sydney, calling on the NSW Planning Department to approve the proposal. See the plans.

The Chatswood CBD.

A multimillion-dollar proposal to completely change the North Sydney skyline with a 48-storey high rise tower in Chatswood has bypassed Willoughby Council — with developers Mirvac calling for the NSW Planning Department to issue its support for the project.

The former Australia Post office site at 45 Victor St, Chatswood could be transformed following a rezoning review application for a tower at the site.

In April, the North Shore Times revealed plans for the $200 million Victor St proposal by developer giant Mirvac would stand 167.5m tall and have 310 units along with office/commercial space on the lower floors.

Artist impressions of the Victor St, Chatswood development by Mirvac.

But councillor objections over additional housing at the CBD site, rather than job creation, saw the proposal hit a snag.

A NSW Planning assessment said Willoughby Council notified that it does not support the Planning proposal, with a rezoning review application submitted on May 4.

Council planning documents called for councillors to refuse forwarding the planning proposal to the NSW Planning Department as it “is a departure from the current planning controls on the site which prohibit residential land use apart from, for the part of the site fronting Victoria

Ave, limited shop top housing with development consent if the ground level and first level of the development are used for the purpose of retail premises or business premises”.

Council planners said the proposal was inconsistent with the endorsed Chatswood CBD strategy which earmarks the site for commercial use.

Artist impressions for Victoria Ave, Chatswood by Alton Property.

Council also rejected plans for a Victoria Ave development by Alton Property Group which forecast a seven-storey podium featuring shops, offices and a hotel below 43 storeys of units containing 260 apartments.