South Yarra apartments have balconies blocked by new building just centimetres away

South Yarra apartment owners have been left “gobsmacked” after a student accommodation high-rise has obliterated their views, putting a wall just centimetres from their balconies.

Richard Hallam has lost his north facing balcony view to a sheet of concrete less than 120mm from his building. Picture: Mark Stewart

These are the pictures that highlight Melbourne’s high-rise housing squeeze.

A looming concrete development in South Yarra is separated by 11.5cm from the north-facing balconies of the apartment block next door.

Construction of the 24-storey student accommodation building in Claremont St has left residents in the apartments next door “gobsmacked” at the encroachment on their view and source of sunlight.

Neighbours said they knew the tower was going up but had no idea they would be boxed in at such close range.

The construction works on Clarendon Street in South Yarra. Picture: Mark Stewart

Apartment owner Richard Hallam said it was only when the building started to take shape in recent weeks he realised he would be staring straight at a concrete wall.

“Initially I wasn’t concerned then I saw the first few floors go up and I thought ‘that’s it I’m sandwiched in’. I was just gobsmacked seeing it right in my face,” he said.

Another neighbour Dave, who asked for his surname not to be used, said he and his girlfriend were moving out because of the impact of the development.

He said they were renting on the 14th floor and their enviable views across the city were being “entirely blocked out”.

“It’s terrible. I’d be p----d off if I’d bought here,” he said.

“We’re making sure we’re not still here when it reaches up to our floor.”

Mr Hallam has said part of the appeal of his apartment was the view, before the new building went up. Picture: Mark Stewart

Mr Hallam bought his two-bedroom flat on the sixth floor last year and said part of the appeal of moving there was the light-filled lounge room.

“I used to get a fantastic view and the sun coming in, now there’s a bleeding great wall blocking it. It’s mad. It’s a complete eyesore,” he said.

The offending wall is part of the Igloo student accommodation that was expected to be 74.4m tall with 448 apartments when completed.

Renders of the finished project.

The building going up. Picture: Instagram

Nearby resident Donna Aston has been charting the progress of the build from her balcony and said she was staggered to see it so close to the site next door.

“Their views are just being obliterated,” she said.

“It’s insanity.”

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The Herald Sun contacted Stonnington Council, which gave approval for the development, but it did not respond before deadline.

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