Nine-storey apartment block proposed for Mountain Highway, Bayswater

THIS nine-storey apartment block being planned for Bayswater is almost twice the height of the council’s preferred limit, leaving locals worried about the suburb’s village feel.

An artists' impressions of the nine-storey apartment building proposed for Bayswater.

BAYSWATER is set to soar with plans for a nine-storey apartment block which would be twice the height of the suburb’s tallest building and in breach of Knox Council’s preferred limit by four storeys.

The plans for 711-717 Mountain Highway were lodged with the council in December, with only three objections received so far.

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The building, on the corner of Valentine St, would include 70 one and two-bedroom apartments and ground floor shops.

It would include trees on terraces and the roof for shading, “as well as softening the appearance of building materials”.

The 1250sq m site houses a carpark and a strip of shops, including a Biggin & Scott real estate agency, massage parlour and bottle shop.

It was bought by a developer for $2.7 million in May last year, and Hudson Bond commercial real estate agent Jeff Stefanidis said the site attracted a lot of interest because of its high-rise potential.

Council city development director Angelo Kourambas said the preferred height limit for the Bayswater Activity Centre was five storeys but an exception could be made if the plans demonstrated “exceptional design quality”.

Residents are concerned it will not fit into the Mountain Highway streetscape.

The suburb’s tallest building is a four-storey apartment building up the road at 656 Mountain Highway.

Knox Appropriate Development Alliance spokeswoman Catherine Kruse said the proposed building was “far too high”.

“It’s certainly not in keeping with the neighbourhood character,” she said.

The site where the nine-storey apartment complex is planned for.

“If the council allow this type of monstrosity to be built in Bayswater it will be a very grave day for all those who live there, setting a precedent for this type of apartment blocks which belong in the suburbs near the city, not here in the townships of Knox.”

Jan Wellings, who has lived in Bayswater 34 years, said a building of that size would “take away the village feel of the place”.

“It’s going to be ugly,” she said.

“It will be this great big thing sticking out in the middle of the shops, and it’s on top of the hill so it will be really obstructive.”

Mr Kourambas said people could have their say on the plans in person at the civic centre, by post or email [e-mail].

Ratio Consulting, acting on behalf of the developer, said they nor their client wanted to respond to Leader’s questions.