Box Hill Central: 51-storey tower approved as part of Vicinity Centres’ $700m upgrade

Box Hill will eventually become home to Melbourne’s tallest building outside of the CBD as part of a $700m overhaul of a shopping precinct.

The tallest building outside of Melbourne’s CBD will be built in Melbourne’s east by 2030, with a massive 51-storey tower the centrepiece of a $700m transformation of Box Hill Central.

Whitehorse councillors approved shopping centre giant Vicinity Centres’ plans at its meeting on Monday night, ticking off three separate permits at 17-21 Market St in Box Hill.

The permits cover three projects in the next stage of Vicinity’s vision to revamp the tired Box Hill Central precinct, including a covered urban plaza and Spanish-steps styled amphitheatre, a 27-storey office tower, and the 51-storey complex with hundreds of apartments.

Once completed, the two towers will provide space for up to 2000 workers and be home for more than 600 residents.

Vicinity’s Chief Development Officer, Carolyn Viney, said the redevelopment of the precinct would “transform the heart of Box Hill into a new, world-class destination for Melbourne.”

Ms Viney said Vicinity had worked closely with the council, the State Government and the community to ensure the design “reflects the site’s rich history and responds to the community’s aspirations and preferences to live, work and play close to home.

“This exciting project reflects our long-term confidence and investment in Box Hill’s future growth and builds on its existing strengths, including its longstanding reputation as a key destination to visit for fresh food and rich dining experiences,” she said.

Councillors voted seven-to-four in favour of Vicinity’s plans after more than an hour of debate, with the tower a huge sticking point for councillors Prue Cutts and Amanda McNeil.

Both councillors felt it would have a detrimental impact on neighbourhood amenity in Box Hill and nearby suburbs, and would dwarf Box Hill’s existing tallest building, the 36-storey Sky One.

“This is out of touch with what real people want for Box Hill,” Cr Cutts said.
“People do not want a 51-storey tower … the higher we go doesn’t mean the better we are, it is completely at odds with the general community’s feelings.”

Cr McNeil feared a shortfall of more than 900 parking spaces compared to the council’s statutory requirements would be a complete “disaster” for traffic in the area.

“There are a lot of good elements in this proposal, but 51 storeys and reduction of carparking is completely inappropriate,” she said.

“This will be an absolute eyesore for Mont Albert, Surrey Hills and other areas inside and outside of Whitehorse.”

Other councillors also had concerns with Vicinity providing only six per cent of the apartments in the tower for low income and affordable housing.

But Cr Andrew Munroe said the location of the tower would benefit low income residents given its proximity to Box Hill’s public transport connections.

“If there’s a place for you to live where you don’t have a car, it’s Box Hill Central,” he said.

Cr Blair Barker said the development would revive Box Hill Central and draw more people to the area, boosting the city’s economy.

“On balance, this application breathes new life into an area that desperately needs it,” he said.

“I want to bring people back and interact with Box Hill, and this is the answer.”

Mayor and local ward councillor Tina Liu also supported the project, saying it was “the largest development proposal to come before council in recent times.”

“Many agree that Box Hill Central is in need of an uplift,” she said.

“While I understand developments of this nature can cause angst, these applications, if we are to look at a local and state framework, do align strategically.”

Three speakers made presentations at Monday’s meeting prior to councillors’ discussing the projects.

They included Vicinity’s David Waldren, who said the group “recognises the strategic importance of Box Hill” and its position as one of the “best public transport and parking locations outside of the CBD”.

Mr Waldren said the proposed projects were “critical to unlocking the potential of these sites” and aligned with the council’s “aims and ambitions” for the Box Hill activity centre.

Box Hill Central is set for a massive $700m transformation including high rise apartment and office towers. File picture.

But local resident Kevin Earle had major concerns about traffic and a lack of facilities for cars and bike riders.

“The traffic this development would generate would be the final straw that breaks the camels back, with the amount cars and bicycles entering,” Mr Earle said.

“Try being an elderly resident walking with your weekly shopping though the winds of Box Hill.”

Cyclist Peter Carter also described it as “a backwards proposal” and aired concerns about Vicinity removing a safe cycling route for its works, without any temporary replacements.

“These three proposals in the present format would close the only existing cycling route across the rail corridor in Box Hill,” he said.

“I’m sure you councillors would not like to ride Station St or Elgar Rd, and recommend that to your family and friends.”

The plans were passed with added conditions of appropriate emergency management plans for the buildings, and the gifting of land from Vicinity for a future bike path in the area.