Glen Iris: Boroondara Council try to stop Delmont Hospital’s Warrigal Rd growth

A Glen Iris psychiatric hospital has won its fight at VCAT after the local council tried to quash its plans for expansion into the leafy east.

Delmont Hospital plans to extend its Glen Iris facility.

A council in Melbourne’s east attempted to block a hospital from building a crucial new wing, arguing the development did not respect “neighbourhood character”.

Delmont Hospital, which specialises in psychiatric care, planned to extend its Glen Iris facility to accommodate an extra 16 overnight beds and 10 consulting rooms in a bid to address “ongoing demand”.

But Boroondara City Council, while acknowledging the Warrigal Rd hospital provided a “needed health service”, refused to grant the planning permit.

Details of the stoush emerged as the owners of Delmont Hospital last week asked the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to review the council’s decision.

After a three-day hearing, tribunal member Alison Glynn ruled there was a “strong community benefit” to be gained by extending the hospital and gave the development the green light.

Delmont Hospital plans to extend its Glen Iris facility onto Madeleine St.

The council and concerned residents had argued the extension, located on nearby Madeline St, would not respect the character of the area because it was “too large and bulky”.

“They say … the three-storey (building) will be pronounced and result in unreasonable visual impact to the surrounding streets,” Ms Glynn said.

But the tribunal heard the new wing has been designed with a “hip roof” – to blend in with the homes on the street – and efforts were being made to use the same building materials which have been used to construct the neighbouring dwellings.

“The evidence … is that most people walking past the site will not register that the building is not residential,” Ms Glynn said.

“The building will not unduly stick out or be out of context to the street.

“I am satisfied it will read as a building that can blend in with its residential neighbours.”

The residents had argued the extension would lead to added traffic congestion and parking problems in the area, but entry for pedestrians and vehicles will only be possible from Warrigal Rd.

The extension is mostly two storeys high, with a “three-storey element”.

They also attempted to argue there would be a “loss of social interaction” due to the fact the new wing on Madeleine St would break up a row of neighbouring houses.

But Ms Glynn found the concerns held by the council and residents did not outweigh the benefits the proposal could deliver to the community.

The tribunal heard the proposed expansion of inpatient beds, consulting suites and associated facilities was a direct response to “strong and ongoing demand for mental health services” in Melbourne.

“Enhanced capacity at Delmont Hospital will help address the well-established undersupply of mental health services,” Ms Glynn said.

The hospital currently has 88 beds and, according to its website, offers a broad range of services, including addiction, aged and general psychiatry.