Stonnington Council approves Claremont St office tower near Melbourne High School

Another high-rise office tower is coming to South Yarra right next to a school that has produced big name sports stars and business movers and shakers.

A large office tower has been approved on Claremont St near Melbourne High School. File picture.

Another huge office tower in South Yarra has been given the green light despite some Stonnington councillors trying to knock a few storeys off the proposed project.

The $35 million, 18-storey tower will be built at 49-51 Claremont St, near Melbourne High School and a block from South Yarra railway station.

The site has an existing two-storey brick office building and was the former home of Hickory construction group.

Developer Bega Nominees will create a ground level cafe, 17 levels of office space and a rooftop garden.

The plans received 21 objections from nearby residents who were concerned about its height and potential overshadowing in the area.

An officer summary showed Melbourne High School supported plans for pedestrian-friendly streetscape works to improve student access.

The project was higher than the council’s preferred 13-storey height limit for the area, and Bega Nominees offered an extra $835,000 as a developer contribution.

Cr Melina Sehr said the extra storeys would “not make much of a difference” as most similar buildings in the area ranged from 20-30 storeys.

But Cr Matthew Kose pushed for the tower to be reduced to the area’s preferred height limit.

“There is a preferred height limit … it doesn’t mean we should walk away from it,” he said.
“I do acknowledge it (the office tower) will add to the daytime economy, but I’m supportive of the residents, and I can’t support a building that is this high in the Forest Hill precinct.”

Cr Marcia Griffin was also against the plans as she felt the Claremont St was already overcrowded.

She also feared not complying with height limit could start a precedent for similar proposals when they were tabled to the new council.

The tower was approved five votes to four, with Mayor Kate Hely and councillors Jami Klisaris, Melina Sehr, Nicki Batigol and Mike Scott offering majority support.