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BEDROOMS with no external windows are among more than 50 extra apartments developers want for the Tooronga Village development.
For the second time Stockland has asked Planning Minister Justin Madden for changes, the latest request to increase the number of apartments from 110 to 166 in the second stage of the Hawthorn East development.
Under the plans, 106 bedrooms out of 250 bedrooms do not have an external window. Special exemptions mean Boroondara Council has no right to seek a review of the minister’s decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The proposed changes come after an extra 185 dwellings were approved by the State Government last year.
Gardiner Ward Councillor Coral Ross said the project had changed “significantly” without consultation and that the council had lodged an objection with the State Government.
Cr Ross criticised the developers for not including external bedroom windows in some of the apartments.
“A bedroom without a window is like a prison cell,” Cr Ross said.
Stockland spokeswoman Sarah Brown confirmed they had revised the application but said the 166 apartments were part of the 785 apartments already approved.
Ms Brown said the changes were in response to “market demand for more affordable product” and to “provide greater options for first-home buyers”.
She said the lack of external windows maximised the space in apartments.
State Government spokesman Chris Owner confirmed the application had been received but could not say when a decision would be made.
For the second time Stockland has asked Planning Minister Justin Madden for changes, the latest request to increase the number of apartments from 110 to 166 in the second stage of the Hawthorn East development.
Under the plans, 106 bedrooms out of 250 bedrooms do not have an external window. Special exemptions mean Boroondara Council has no right to seek a review of the minister’s decision at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
The proposed changes come after an extra 185 dwellings were approved by the State Government last year.
Gardiner Ward Councillor Coral Ross said the project had changed “significantly” without consultation and that the council had lodged an objection with the State Government.
Cr Ross criticised the developers for not including external bedroom windows in some of the apartments.
“A bedroom without a window is like a prison cell,” Cr Ross said.
Stockland spokeswoman Sarah Brown confirmed they had revised the application but said the 166 apartments were part of the 785 apartments already approved.
Ms Brown said the changes were in response to “market demand for more affordable product” and to “provide greater options for first-home buyers”.
She said the lack of external windows maximised the space in apartments.
State Government spokesman Chris Owner confirmed the application had been received but could not say when a decision would be made.
"Demand for affordable product" is actually Stockland's complete failure to sell the initial project design of high-end units near the $1,000,000 each. -I wish I had saved the original sales material..from memory they were "offering" 2 bed units @$799,000. My understanding is not a single unit sold off the plan but with the retail development (Coles) galloping ahead the plans for the resi part above the retail were changed AFTER development had started: shrink the units, shrink the price...suddenly high-end luxury units are turned into a pitch to the investor and FHB.
It would appear they are still shrinking to discover what the market will bear. From the numbers quoted above I'm guessing they've already added 30% to the initial planned units (by decreasing the units...a 3bd turns into a 2bd unit + Studio unit) ...785 units extra 185 units. Too bad the access was designed and approved for the original smaller approved proposal. Not that it was hard to get through there before and after work when it was a simple strip mall.
Looks impressive from the Monash.
Windowless bedroom units. What the market "demands" Stockland provides! I hope the gov't says no to the changes but somehow I don't see that happening.
