07-09-2015, 08:03 PM
- Sep 6 2015 at 4:42 PM
- Updated Sep 7 2015 at 9:38 AM
- Share via Email
NaN of
[img=620x0]http://www.afr.com/content/dam/images/g/j/g/6/8/v/image.related.afrArticleLead.620x350.gjg202.png/1441582708492.jpg[/img]Cutting the long shadow of developments: Developer lobby group UDIA has criticised the Victorian government move to cut density of permitted CBD projects. Georgia Metaxas
[Image: 1426320577108.png]
- Share on twitter
by Michael Bleby
Victoria's overnight imposition of building controls risks curbing a construction boom in which apartments have outstripped stand-alone houses, developers say.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne's decision to place interim density controls on Saturday drew a heated response from a development industry stung by the unheralded move.
"Swift, uncanvassed action such as that taken overnight by the Planning Minister serves only one purpose – to undermine investor confidence, which can only lead to reduced activity," said Danni Addison, Victorian chief executive of the Urban Development Institute.
"The Andrews government is kidding itself if it believes that severe and unexpected actions such as this will have no impact."
The change imposes an immediate plot ratio of 24:1 - limiting the floor space created by any development to 24 times the size of its site footprint - over the CBD and parts of neighbouring Southbank. It cuts the potential yield of development schemes well below levels that have risen as high as 65:1 in recent years.
Not all developers were as scathing as the lobby group. It was "a bit too early" to say the interim measures – subject to a 12-month consultation – would cut investment, said Grocon head of development Dan McLennan, who also cautioned against "kneejerking" against them.
A "broad-brush" tool such as plot ratio alone wouldn't prevent bad projects and the state should consider a NSW-style requirement for developments above a certain value to hold design competitions, forcing developers to consider a range of ideas for their projects, Mr McLennan said.
"One of the more concerning trends I see in the CBD of Melbourne would be the concentration of design within certain firms, as opposed to a broad spectrum of architects in developing the look and feel of the city," Mr McLennan said.
"The best architects we've worked with have been the ones who really challenge you as opposed to the ones who simply draw the lines where you want them to. In the cut and thrust it's frustrating, but you look back at the end product and you see the benefit."
Mr Wynne defended the moves on Sunday.
"Developers wanting to max out sites with little regard for the public realm may be put off with the changes but architects, developers and asset owners with long-term interests should appreciate how strategic CBD planning will maintain values and the city's integrity," he said.