Community angry at dense developments being forced upon Hampton St and surrounding streets

A RALLYING call has been sounded for those in the community opposed to overdevelopment in and around Hampton St.

Hampton St residents fear the area is becoming massively overbuilt. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A RALLYING call has been sounded for those in the community opposed to overdevelopment in and around Hampton St.

A hall meeting being held Wednesday night is expected to involve scores of concerned residents angry at what they perceive is too dense and too high development of their village-like area.

The Hampton Village Building Outrage forum, set up by the Hampton Neighbourhood Association, will involve residents, local architects, Bayside councillors and staff.

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There is a suite of large developments, some as high as seven or eight storeys, involving dozens of apartments and retail premises, either in the pipeline or already under construction.

Hampton Neighbourhood Association president Tony Batt said the community was frustrated with the arrogance being shown by developers.

“We believe they are destroying the village atmosphere and ambience,” Mr Batt said.

“So many applications seem to be ambit claims, competing to be who can get the highest.

“There is quite a bit of feeling out there, Hampton people have had enough, we accept there needs to be development but it must be within guidelines and limits.”

Jim Hill, Hampton resident and architect, said the community needed to fight back.

“Any proposal for additional housing in this strategically located area should provide, as a fundamental priority, adequate car parking for shoppers, traders and commuters if the Hampton precinct is to remain viable in the years ahead,” Mr Hill said.

Bayside Council had refused several proposals, only to be overruled by VCAT.

Councillors have vowed to fight one application, on the corner of Holyrood St, at the tribunal with high-level legal representation.

Cr James Long described the situation as “obscene” while Cr Rob Grinter said “tomorrow’s ghettos” were being created.

The meeting is on Wednesday, February 15 at Hampton Community Centre, 14 Willis St, Hampton from 7.30pm.