247-259 Johnston Street, Abbotsford (17 storey redevelopment)

In February 2012, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) rejected a proposal for a 17-storey development in Johnston Street, Abbotsford.

The VCAT decision is a major win for Council and the community against overdevelopment. Council put forward a strong case at VCAT, employing a barrister to argue its position that the development’s scale, height and density was inappropriate. Council had received 87 objections, and a petition with 19 signatures, opposing the development.

Here is a media release from Council welcoming VCAT's decision.

Here is the doc format VCAT decision on 247-259 Johnston Street and 36-40 Stafford Street, Abbotsford (152.50kB)

What did the application propose?

The application from the developer Abbotsford Joint Venture Pty Ltd provided for:

Construction of a part two, part six, part nine, part 16 and part 17 storey building (over one level of basement car parking)
A total of 204 dwellings including two two-storey townhouses (located along Stafford Street)
Vehicle access from Stafford Street to the three levels of car park
Provision of 118 car parking spaces (59 spaces at basement, 25 spaces at ground floor and 34 spaces at level one)
Provision of 129 bicycle parking spaces (52 spaces at basement, 14 at ground floor and 63 at level one)
Provision of three retail tenancies along Johnston Street at ground level ranging in floor size from 73sq.m. to 133 sq.m.

Planning application and supporting documents

VCAT evidence

Please find below evidence that was presented at the VCAT hearing:

Council evidence

pdf format Urban design evidence - Andrew Hutson (254.21kB)

Applicant evidence

pdf format Planning evidence - Urbis (2.71MB)

pdf format Planning evidence - Contour Consultants (part one) (875.51kB)
Planning evidence - Contour Consultants (part two) (1.34MB)
Planning evidence - Contour Consultants (part three) (1.66MB)
Planning evidence - Contour Consultants (part four) (2.46MB)
Planning evidence - Contour Consultants (part five) (1.13MB)

pdf format Planning evidence - 10 Consulting Group (part one) (1.74MB)
Planning evidence - 10 Consulting Group (part two) (1.65MB)
Planning evidence - 10 Consulting Group (part three) (2.38MB)

pdf format Urban design evidence - Message Consultants (part one) (1.53MB)
Urban design evidence - Message Consultants (part two) (1.21MB)

pdf format Traffic evidence - Cardno (part one) (1.14MB)
Traffic evidence - Cardno (part two) (1.14MB)
Traffic evidence - Cardno (part three) (2.49MB)

Further information
Mary Osman
Manager - Statutory Planning
9205 5373
Mary.Osman@yarracity.vic.gov.au