A cluster of more than 900 apartments spread across six towers soaring up to 24 storeys high will be added to the Footscray skyline in one of the largest developments ever approved in the suburb.
The six buildings, ranging from 10 to 24 storeys, will be built in three stages near the Maribyrnong River at 4 Hopkins Street.
The $355 million project on the former Le Mans Toyota site has been given the green light by state Planning Minister Richard Wynne.
The 1.3-hectare site was sold in 2014 for a reported $18.7 million by government agency Places Victoria, which had paid $21 million for the site in 2011.
Mr Wynne said Melbourne was predicted to outgrow Sydney within a few decades and housing policies needed to balance growth and liveability. He said the 930 new one, two and three-bedroom apartments would be above ground floor retail space.
“Encouraging sustainable development in appropriate in-fill sites like this will help to more sustainably meet the needs of Victoria’s growing population, reduce urban sprawl, provide a better mix of housing options and promote jobs,” Mr Wynne said.
“The market is responding to high supply levels by offering more variety and we’re seeing more apartments big enough for families.”
Mr Wynne said his approval contained conditions including a minimum apartment size of 50 square metres, five per cent of apartments having three or more bedrooms, and heights and setbacks between towers not changing during the final design process.
A scathing Maribyrnong council report on the proposal by Golden Asset last year lashed the project as a “mass over-development” that failed to meet a number of planning objectives.
The state government last year handed planning control for Footscray’s CBD and riverside Joseph Road precinct back to the council, but the planning minister retained powers over a handful of key sites, including 4 Hopkins Street, the McNab Avenue redevelopment and the Paint Spot site at 26-34 Buckley Street.
The riverside pocket of Footscray containing the site is on its way to being a satellite city holding up to 5000 people.
The neighbouring riverside site at 2 Hopkins Street has approval for 751 apartments in four towers ranging from 16 to 28 storeys, while another nearby development will hold 970 apartments in twin 32-storey towers, a 19-storey tower and two 17-storey buildings.
