The City will recommend that the Metro Inner-North Joint Development Assessment Panel (JDAP) refuse a development application at 424-428 and 440 Hay Street in its Responsible Authority Report.
It comes after a staff recommendation for refusal was unanimously endorsed by Elected Members at last night’s Ordinary Council Meeting.
The City received a Development Assessment Panel application for the properties in September proposing the demolition of the existing buildings – which have heritage value – and construction of replica buildings.
The development application is inconsistent with the City’s Local Planning Scheme No. 5, which only contemplates demolition of heritage buildings where it is identified that they have limited or no cultural heritage significance and do not make a significant contribution to the character of the locality.
The buildings have previously been identified as making considerable contribution to the Rokeby Road and Hay Street Heritage Area and the application fails to meet this clause.
The proposal has also been reviewed by the City’s Design Review Panel (DRP) who concluded that it’s not of high quality, raising several concerns particularly regarding the construction of non-authentic replica buildings which do not respond to the context or character of the area.
The matter will now go to JDAP for a decision next week.
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