Verdict on Drysdale double-storey townhouse bid

A plan to bulldoze a Bellarine Peninsula home to make way for seven double-storey townhouses has been decided, in an effort to “set the tone” for acceptable future developments in the area.

A bid to bulldoze a Drysdale home to make way for seven double-storey townhouses has been rejected by both the city and the state’s planning umpire, in a bid to “set the tone” for acceptable future developments in the area.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) this week affirmed the City of Greater Geelong’s decision to reject a planning permit to build the townhouse development on a 1034sq m Granville St block of land – replacing an ageing single-storey home.

Original plans, estimated to cost developers $1.3m and deliver sizeable profits, were rejected by the city before being altered by the applicants to remove on double-storey townhouse and sent to VCAT for an appeal of the city decision.

Artist's impression of the rejected Drysdale development

But VCAT senior member Margaret Baird rejected the appeal this week, citing particular issues with the designs and parts of the layout – despite the area of the development having been identified by the city for “intensification and housing diversity”.

“It is self-evident that detached single storey dwellings are not the future sought for this area, and that new development will differ from the existing character of detached mostly single storey dwellings or units near to the subject land,” Ms Baird said.

“The parties refer to this development as the ‘first cab off the rank’. It is correct that the proposal is the first in this location.

“Although not bound by precedent, as ‘the first’ a development approved on the subject land could, however, be expected to set the tone for the type of acceptable development into the future.

“The proposal’s negative outcomes and impacts outweigh its acceptable and positive responses to the relevant scheme policies and provisions. The Council’s decision is, therefore, affirmed.”

The City of Greater Geelong had highlighted “significant concern” with the density of the proposed development.

Originally published as Verdict on Drysdale double-storey townhouse bid