Ratio

Ratio Consultants was appointed to seek planning permit approval for a five storey office building with associated car parking for the landmark Pelaco Building, at the top of Richmond Hill. The plans prepared by renowned architectural practice Rothe Lowman sought to rework a previous planning approval obtained for the site that was no longer viable. That permit was the subject of a lengthy VCAT hearing and, at the time, was a significant case in which the weight attached to Melbourne 2030 was first discussed.
However, with the passage of time, the serviced apartments sought for the land were no longer appropriate, and the client sought to introduce office floor space, requiring a significant increase in parking provision on a site already constrained for car parking.

The Challenge:

The application raised many challenges to the consultant team, including:

• seeking further car parking dispensation in an area where car parking is widely acknowledged as being at a premium;
• resolving interface issues with surrounding residents such as overlooking, building massing, loss of sunlight, noise etc, noting that the site is located within a low scale heritage residential precinct;
• visual bulk of the additional building and the impact on the landmark 'Pelaco' sign; and
• resolving concerns about the additional traffic likely to be generated as a result of the proposed development.

The Approach:

The matter was scheduled for a full merits hearing at VCAT. However Ratio actively pursued negotiations with the City of Yarra and all five objectors with a view to resolving the matter prior to the hearing. Ratio were successful in such negotiations and the matter was settled.

The Result:

A planning permit was issued on May 1, 2009 following a consent order issued by the Tribunal.