Chapel St Windsor: New plans lodged for huge hotel over Sandringham line tracks

A developer is having a second shot at build a new landmark on the edge of the CBD — and it wants to put it on top of one Melbourne’s busiest railway lines.

Stonnington Council has received a planning application for a 10-storey hotel above train tracks near Windsor railway station. Picture: David Crosling

A 10-storey hotel with no parking could be built over a Melbourne railway line, two years after an even bigger development at the site was rejected.

Stonnington Council is likely to vote in early December on developer SMA Projects’ revised plans at 24-26 and 28 Chapel St in Windsor, which have received more than 100 objections.

In 2018, the council rejected SMA’s proposed 20-storey tower at the site near Windsor railway station and over tracks on the Sandringham line.

SMA Projects’ original project, a 20-storey tower on top of the Sandringham railway line, was rejected in 2018. Picture: Supplied.

An appeal was later rejected after an eight-day VCAT hearing, with the tribunal determining the proposed office, retail and apartment complex was out of character in the suburb.

The developer has since halved the project in height, pitching a 111-room hotel on nine levels and shops on the ground floor.

Adam Kopf noticed the permit and shared it to the Residents living in the electorate of Higgins, Melbourne Facebook group on October 26.

“Controversial development proposal goes up first weekday after elections close,” he wrote.

“111 room hotel with no carpark. Coincidence?”

Council spokesman Jim Carden said the latest plans received 106 objections during its two weeks on display.

Mr Carden confirmed the building was proposed to be “largely constructed within the air space above the railway corridor” and there were no plans for on-site parking.

He said SMA planned to demolish all buildings on the site apart from infrastructure essential to operations on the railway line.

SMA Projects did not return Leader’s calls for comment.

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