Sofia’s Camberwell and bank site high rise proposal goes to VCAT

The owners of Sofia’s Camberwell have cooked up another plan to develop the site of their pizza restaurant, but neighbours and the council still aren’t happy.

The planning proposal encompasses both the Sofia’s site at 853-861 Burke Rd, Camberwell, as well as the State Savings Bank next door at 851 Burke Rd. Picture: Mark Stewart

The owners of Sofia’s restaurant in Camberwell have gone to VCAT to have plans for an eight-storey, mixed use development approved.

But Camberwell man Greg Deakin said the planned design, which was scaled back on previous proposals for a nine-storey structure, was still too big and he would be “very disappointed” if it went ahead.

The planning proposal encompasses both the Sofia’s site at 853-861 Burke Rd, Camberwell, as well as the State Savings Bank next door at 851 Burke Rd.

It would house 42 apartments, a restaurant, cafe, and a wine bar, and require the total demolition of the restaurant and partial demolition of the bank.

Mr Deakin, who attended the recent tribunal hearings, said the height and bulk of the planned structure would cause it to stand out and be an eyesore in the street.

The old bank building next to Sofia's in Burke Rd Camberwell. Picture: Mark Stewart

He also said the developer’s plan to retain the bank building’s facade, which is subject to a council heritage overlay, didn’t go far enough to preserve the building’s significance.

He said the bank was classified as a significant building within a council heritage overlay, and approval of the development would set a precedent.

The council achieved some concessions in the current proposal, he said, but he called on them to be tougher with developers who wanted to demolish or partially demolish heritage properties.

“They (the developer) haven’t really stopped to think about what they can do to preserve that heritage building,” he said.

“I think that the council is not really consistent and not really committed to preserving the heritage of this Burke Rd north area.

“Are we going to preserve some sort of heritage in that area of Burke Rd or are we going to lose it?”

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Ratio Consultants, representing Sofia’s restaurant owner, Raydan Restaurant Enterprises Pty Ltd, did not respond to the Progress Leader’s request for comment.

Boroondara Mayor Jane Addis said the council refused the developer’s application due to its “excessive visual mass” and the negative impact it would have on the streetscape.

The proposed wine bar may also adversely affect nearby residential properties due to drunken, anti-social behaviour by patrons, she said, and the council asked the tribunal to reject the developer’s application.

Previous plans for the site were also knocked back by the council, a decision upheld by the tribunal, and she said this was the second time the tribunal would consider an application by the developer for the site.

“We are surprised the applicant proposed a building of this size and scale,” she said.

“The most recent application clearly does not address the reasons VCAT upheld council’s refusal of the previous proposal.”

The tribunal is expected to make a decision on the redevelopment in the coming weeks.