Box Hill Central redevelopment: Vicinity pitches five more towers

Box Hill could get another cluster of towers — including two of almost 50-storeys — after a shopping giant went direct to the state government for approval.

An artist's impression showing some of the open space Vicinity is planning to include in its Box Hill Central redevelopment. Picture supplied by Vicinity Centres.

A proposed monster five-tower development in Box Hill — including one high-rise reaching a CBD-like 49-storeys — has been put in the hands of the state government, in a move criticised by the local council.

Shopping centre giant Vicinity first unveiled its $683m, 10-year masterplan for Box Hill Central shopping centre and the broader precinct in May 2020.

The first projects, ticked off by the council in May 2022, included a 51-storey apartment complex, a 27-storey office tower and an urban plaza with a Spanish steps-styled amphitheatre.

But under a draft planning document, the Box Hill Central North masterplan, which was submitted on Vicinity’s behalf in June 2022, five more buildings are also proposed including a 49-storey residential complex on the corner of Clisby Ct and Prospect St.

The tallest building in Box Hill presently — which is dotted with high rise buildings — is the 36-storey Sky One.

Whitehorse Council will request a meeting with Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny after Vicinity went direct to her predecessor, Richard Wynne, seeking an ammendment to the city’s planning scheme to facilitate its redevelopment plans.

Up to seven towers are planned as part of Vicinity Centres’ Box Hill Central redevelopment. Artist impression/File picture.

Vicinity Centres is pushing for an amendment to the Box Hill Central North masterplan to allow it to carry out its proposed redevelopment plans.

Vicinity general manager of mixed-use development Truman Dare said the masterplan would “unlock the site’s potential and adapt to future population growth demands”.

Cr Prue Cutts said she felt the council had “been put to the side” by Vicinity’s actions.

Cr Cutts said she was concerned three of the proposed buildings – at 37, 45 and 49 storeys – were above the council’s preferred 36-storey height limit.

“This is very worrying that a big masterplan like this with five massive buildings can be taken out of council hands when it should be a council decision,” she said.

Despite her comments, Cr Cutts was the only councillor to vote against the officers’ recommendation of writing to the minister.

Mayor Mark Lane said the council was “fully capable of dealing with planning matters of this nature”, having already approved three permits for Vicinity’s plans last year.

“Council is also concerned about the limited time for people to lodge submissions to the state government, particularly our communities in Box Hill who may not speak English as a first language,” he said.

Cr Lane said the council felt Vicinity’s proposal was not in line with its vision for the precinct, and it would add further pressure on the council to maintain open space in the booming Box Hill CBD.

Cr Lane said residents already faced the prospect of losing use of half of the Box Hill City Gardens for 20 years for construction of the Suburban Rail Loop.

“While in proposal the other buildings are lower (than 51 storeys) … for us its not fitting with our strategy and what we want to see for Box Hill, and for the skyline and wind tunnels it might create.”

“With higher density living, people need to get out to open space and parkland. this puts more pressure on council to provide it even though we have no control enabling it.”

Vicinity claimed it consulted with the council about the proposed Box Hill North masterplan over an extended period of time, before it submitted its three applications for its first projects that were approved last year.

Public submissions to the draft amendment advertised by the State Government close on March 23.