$8.78 million shop-top housing development in Georgetown approved
Developers have identified the potential growth in a small Newcastle suburb, with the approval of a four-storey shop top housing development. Read the details.
Newcastle
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An old service station, grocer and butcher in a small Newcastle suburb will be transformed into a multistorey shop top housing development.
Developers GWH have identified the potential growth in Georgetown, and emerging demand for more housing, with an application for a four-storey mixed-use development set to start construction on Georgetown Rd.
Approved by Newcastle City Council just two days before Christmas, the $8.78 million development includes 23 residential units of one, two and three bedroom apartments, as well as two commercial units and more than 30 carparking spaces.
The existing building, which used to occupy a fruit and vegetable store and butcher in the 1980s and a service station around the 1950s, will be demolished to make way for the significant development.
Construction of the new building will be seen to deliver positive social and economic benefits.
“Construction expenditure will support local businesses and the economy,” a planner said.
“Ongoing operation will provide jobs and promote economic activity.
“The development will support economic activity and can be delivered with no significant, adverse environmental impacts. The proposal is considered in the public interest.
“The development will provide new businesses and housing that will contribute to the desired character of the area.”
Open for public feedback in May and June last year, council received three submissions opposing the development citing concerns with its character, privacy issues, visual impacts, overshadowing, building height and bulk and scale.
One nearby resident stated it was “completely out of character” with the surrounding area.
“Georgetown has a unique charm that makes this suburb a very desirable place to live. Part of this suburb’s charm will be destroyed by the size of this building and the increased population of residents,” they wrote.
But planning documents said all concerns had been raised and addressed and concluded it was an appropriate development for the area.
“Having regard to site characteristics, nature of the proposed development, and prevailing land uses in the area, the development will provide new businesses and housing that will contribute to the desired character of the area,” a planner said.
“The form and scale of built form is compatible with the local pattern of development, and the site is accessible to all necessary services and infrastructure.”
The Urban Design Review Panel, which also assessed the development, agreed the development was great for the small suburb.
“The suburb of Georgetown is emerging as a valuable lifestyle village,” the panel said.
“This structure may be here for 200 years and would be the biggest building in Georgetown, so also has the potential to be the best building in Georgetown.”
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