Chapel St: Stonnington Council blocks Melbourne High School’s use of new tower

One of Melbourne’s most elite schools went from objecting to supporting a high-rise tower on the back of a promise. But the local council had other ideas.

A new 21-storey tower (centre) is being recommended for approval at 627 Chapel St, South Yarra. Picture: Excerpt from planning documents.

A prestigious Melbourne school that flipped from being an objector to a supporter of a nearby high-rise tower after it was promised it could manage valuable space on a floor, has been dudded by the local council.

Melbourne High School was set to control a 360sq m area of a 22-storey mixed-use complex with 160 apartments at 627 Chapel St in South Yarra, for school activities and broader community use.

The school’s council led a successful VCAT appeal to original plans approved by Stonnington Council in 2018, but changed its tune and supported a revised application after it worked with the developer to secure space in the new tower.

Stonnington councillors went against officer recommendations and approved an alternate motion on Monday night, voting for the council to control the space that was to be managed by the school.

Councillors also voted to cut the height of the $70m tower from 22 to 18 storeys following more than 70 objections and hundreds of emails from community members concerned about its visual impact.

Melbourne High School was set to manage part of a proposed high-rise tower at 627 Chapel St in South Yarra. Picture: Extract from planning documents.

Cr Matthew Koce said while the developer had produced a better overall proposal since the tribunal ruling, he was concerned about Melbourne High’s control of part of the building.

“The community benefit is not beneficial with Melbourne High managing (part of) the site,” he said.
“My concern comes back to community space, and I would like it to be a true community space that council has control over.”

Prior to Monday’s decision, the school’s principal, Dr Anthony Mordini, sent a letter of support stating it had worked with applicants GFM Investment Management Limited to ensure the project was “respectful of and complementary to the character of the school and this part of South Yarra more generally.”

“We have also considered the proposal against the previous VCAT decision and are satisfied that the shortcomings of the previous proposal have been adequately addressed through the high-quality architecture and urban design proposed,” Dr Mordini wrote.

“It is pleasing that this proposal will both reinvigorate the north west section of Chapel St and also include space for an education and community uses, making a positive contribution to the precinct.”

The school was not promised space in the original plans for the site, which it successfully appealed at the tribunal in 2019 amid concerns of its height, built form and having an “overbearing presence” on its historical buildings.

An artist's impression of the view of a proposed 21-storey tower at Chapel St South Yarra (centre), behind Melbourne High School. Picture: Extract from planning documents.

Residents had also aired privacy and character concerns ahead of Monday’s decision in the Chapel Street North Community Engagement Group on Facebook.

Local Rebecca Jones said she felt the tower “does not offer sufficient community benefit to be worthy of construction in our neighbourhood”.

Ms Jones also told Leader residents felt “really put off” by the school’s approach to the application.

“They were one of the objectors to this project initially and challenged it at VCAT, and now they are a named applicant on the proposal itself,” she said.

Another local, Reuben Kirkham, said community members planned to appeal Monday night’s decision as they felt “these accommodations do not go far enough in responding to community concerns.”

Dr Mordini did not say if the school would lodge an appeal, but said it would value space in the new complex “to further enhance opportunities for its students, its alumni, and the wider community.”

“Melbourne High School has a place in the Stonnington community and has done so for nearly 100 years,” he said.

“Although disappointed with the outcome regarding the ‘learning and community space’, we will work will all stakeholders to find solutions of mutual benefit.”