Stonnington Council refuses Glen Iris Woolworths’ 173 Burke Rd project

People power has won out over a proposed supermarket and apartments project in Glen Iris, but could they still have a fight on their hands?

A planned six storey complex with a Woolworths and 90 apartments in Glen Iris has been refused by Stonnington Council.

A supermarket giant’s plan for a new store and high rise apartments in Melbourne’s inner east has been rejected because of “unacceptable” traffic concerns and its design.

But Woolworths and developer Time and Place won’t say if they plan to appeal Stonnington Council’s refusal of their $61m overhaul of 173 Burke Rd in Glen Iris.

Council officers confirmed they would refuse an application to build a “state of the art” new supermarket and 85 apartments across five levels at the site, bought by the two groups for an estimated $30 million earlier this year.

The 4305sq m site has been partially used by biscuit company Arnott’s, which is set to move to a new location for its Victorian operations next month.

Plans lodged with the council by Woolworths and Time and Place also included more than 300 underground carparks on three levels, 62 bike spaces and a BWS bottle shop.

The two groups held community consultation sessions earlier this month as the plans were formally advertised.

It led to a petition and concerns from angry residents and almost 100 objections have been lodged with the council.

Stonnington chief executive Jacqui Weatherill confirmed the council had notified Woolworths and Time and Place that the application would be refused, despite the advertising period ending on October 4.

“There are a number of concerns with the application and, following the notification period in early October, it will be refused as it is deemed not in a form that could be recommended to Councillors,” Ms Weatherill said.

“This is due largely to unacceptable local traffic congestion and urban design issues.”

Hope St resident Kelvin Chand, who lives not far from the site, was pleased with the outcome but was confident the two groups would lodge a VCAT appeal.

“The size and scale of the proposal is just not compatible with the Central Park village precinct,” he said.

“It’s a good little win, but at the end of the day they’re not going to roll over.”

In a statement, Woolworths and Time and Place’s project team did not say if they had be notified of the council’s refusal, or if they planned to appeal the decision.

“We appreciate there is significant interest in our plans and we have worked to respond to questions and issues the community has raised,” they said.

“We look forward to formal determination by council officers following the public exhibition period, which concludes on October 4, 2021 … and continuing to work with all stakeholders through the planning process.”