Brighton Grammar School leaves residents fuming as development plans could take away their right of reply

Brighton residents say an elite private school is trying to sneak through plans to rezone a residential area, which could see the eviction of at least three families.

Brighton Grammar has angered residents of Young St after not consulting or informing locals on a development proposal directly impacting the residential zoning of Young St.

Residents of one of Melbourne’s most sought after suburbs are outraged by an elite private school with claims it is attempting to “aggressively take over an established residential neighbourhood”.

Brighton Grammar School has attracted the ire of Young St residents after the junior school campus submitted a development plan for three houses in the tree lined cul-de-sac.

In plans, seen by the Herald Sun, the school intends to redevelop the residential homes for “educational purposes”, meaning the three properties could be rezoned from residential to non-government school land.

Residents fear approvals of the plan would have lasting negative impacts on the entire street.

Young St resident Craig Sandiford has lived in the quiet court, nestled behind the grammar school, for 23 years.

“Kids have always played cricket and sport in the street, there’s a basketball hoop in the cul-de-sac,” he said.

“That’s been possible because it’s a safe and quiet thoroughfare.”

Mr Sandiford said the school said it reached out to the community regarding the development in late December 2023, but he and many residents only discovered the plans more recently.

The red outline shows what area the school currently owns. Picture: supplied.

“I’ve spoken with more than 60 people in the direct area over the past few days and none of them knew about it,” he said.

“It first came to light when the tenants of the affected properties received an email.”

Naomi Parker, a Grosvenor St resident, received a letter from the government about the proposal on February 22.

“It gave us not even two weeks to respond to the proposal put forward by the school,” she said.

Ms Parker said she had tried to contact the school directly after reading the letter but hit a brick wall.

“We either get vague responses, or nothing at all,” she said.

“It makes you feel quite powerless. We have elderly neighbours who can’t send an email to object. It’s just very sneaky.”

The green outlines which houses would be affected by the development. Picture: supplied.

The application allows for objections to be submitted to the Planning Minister for consideration, but the cut off date is March 6.

Mr Sandiford said residents feared the planning process could lead to a similar situation currently being experienced by Hampton residents.

“Haileybury College did a similar thing and have plans to build an 18m tall building in a completely residential area,” he said.

“We don’t want to be the next victims of this relentless, aggressive private school take over of established residential neighbourhoods.”

The legislation that would enable Brighton Grammar to develop land as they liked, without requiring approval from the council or surrounding residents, was passed by the Andrews government in 2019.

The legislation changed planning laws, allowing non-government schools to apply directly to the Planning Minister for approval of proposed developments, leaving councils and residents without a legal avenue to object.

Mr Sandiford also highlighted the other ramifications of the potential development.

“We are currently in a housing crisis,” he said.

“The school would effectively be evicting three families. It’s sneaky and disingenuous.”

The Bayside council and Brighton Grammar have been contacted for comment.