Geelong council reach decision over 200-house Leopold development

Developers have been given a verdict on a proposal to build over 200 houses on two former farms in Leopold, which would include social and affordable housing.

Developers have been given the green-light to build more than 200 new houses on two former farms in Leopold, with the Geelong council voting to rezone five Bellarine farms into residential zones.

Social and affordable housing will also be boosted under the move, with developers signing up for a contribution plan delivering one in every 20 dwellings at a 25 per cent discount on the market value.

Councillors on Tuesday voted unanimously to adopt Planning Scheme Amendment C391, rezoning five properties on the eastern side of Ash Rd from Farming Zone to General Residential Zone Schedule 1, and approving a concurrent planning application to allow 206 residential lots to be built on two of the properties.

Ash Rd land earmarked for future development in Leopold

The council decision comes after the group referred 29 submissions – including 13 objections – regarding the plans to an independent panel appointed by the state’s Planning Minister consideration.

The panel found the planning scheme amendment to be “strategically supported by policy”, recommending it be adopted by the city.

Deputy Mayor and Bellarine Ward councillor Trent Sullivan made particular note of the social and affordable housing contribution commitment signed by developers.

“It is very prudent that [the panel recommendation] delivers social and affordable housing on site,” Cr Sullivan said.

“There’s a major battle we’re fighting at the moment with the State Government and ourselves, how we handle social housing and how we implement affordable housing for our community going forward – because we know housing stress is a great issue for our residents right now, and it’s not going away any time soon.”

Cr Sullivan last year declared the planning scheme amendment had the “vast support of the community” due to a shortage of housing in the suburb.

The adoption of the planning scheme amendment and planning application followed a December decision by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) overturning a city decision to reject the staged subdivision of five properties on western side of Ash Rd – directly opposite the land subject to C391.

The 121,000sq m of land is now poised to be subdivided into 189 residential lots, an open space reserve, a drainage reserve and a new road network.

The city’s adoption of the C391 planning scheme amendment will now be sent to the state’s Planning Minister for final approval.

Originally published as Geelong council reach decision over 200-house Leopold development