Melbourne high rise apartments built centimetres from office windows

When Nick Morris purchased two east-facing offices in Gladstone St, South Melbourne, the views of the city’s skyline were a key part of the deal.~

A property owner is kicking up a stink after a block of high rise apartments cut off the prizewinning views from his Melbourne office windows.

When Nick Morris purchased two east-facing offices in Gladstone St, South Melbourne, the views of the city’s skyline were a key part of the deal.

“It was just a bright, airy little office,” Mr Morris told A Current Affair.

Tenants in Nick Morris' east facing offices on Gladstone Street in South Melbourne once received natural light and skyline views. Picture: Channel 9 / A Current Affair

Leased out to businesses who require the office space, the South Melbourne property was blessed with large windows flooding the space with natural light, and a stunning view of the city to boot.

“(The offices) were used for interactions, they were used for meetings,” Mr Morris said.

Then in 2022, Greystar started building three ritzy towers next door, complete with 700 residential apartments, and the light was snuffed from the property – literally.

While Mr Morris was aware of the plans to build the residential property, he was expecting to see a 4m gap between his office windows and the new building; it was what was promised in the official planning documents and what the Port Phillip City council approved.

It’s a bit different these days. Picture: Channel 9 / A Current Affair

Instead, when the apartments were completed in April this year, Mr Morris was horrified to discover only a 20mm space between the two buildings, and an enormous slab of concrete covering the office’s large windows.

“I don’t know that you’d see that on the brochure,” Mr Morris told ACA.

He has since had trouble finding tenants to fill the space, with prospective occupants unable to see past the building’s lack of light.

Ever since three ritzy towers, housing 700 residential apartments, moved in next door, Mr Morris says the spaces are boxed in by a great big slab of concrete – forcing his tenants out. Picture: Channel 9 / A Current Affair

In July 2023, the legal team for Greystar explained to Mr Morris there had been a change in plans following its 2014 approval, which was ticked off by the Planning Minister.

Mr Morris and Greystar went back and forth for months, with the real estate developer promising $5,000 compensation for the building owner.

“It’s just stupidity,” he said.

“We’ve been to the council and we’ve been to the planning department … they’re passing the buck, no one is claiming responsibility for it.”

There’s only a 20mm gap between buildings. Picture: Channel 9 / A Current Affair

Greystar said: “This development of 700 new, high quality rental homes was designed in accordance with the planning requirements for the Fishermans Bend urban renewal area, and all planning processes and notifications were followed in accordance with the relevant Planning and Building laws.”

A spokesman for the Port Phillip City council confirmed it “did not approve or modify plans for The Gladstone development at – Gladstone Street, South Melbourne” and all approvals were completed by the state government’s Planning Minister, who agreed the building met all relevant criteria.

Planning approval powers for developments in the Fishermans Bend Urban Renewal Area are with the Victorian Government’s Planning Minister if buildings are at least four storeys high and involve 60 or more dwellings.

The Gladstone met these criteria.

Originally published as Melbourne high rise apartments built centimetres from office windows