An artist’s impression of the revised Belconnen Central development. The developer has made multiple changes to address concerns. Image: Cox Architecture.
Canberra developer JW Land has again tweaked its massive proposed mixed-use development in the Belconnen Town Centre in a bid to have it approved.
The Planning Authority threw out its initial proposal for Block 17 Section 152 – bound by Swanson Court, Chandler Street, the Cohen Street bus station and a public walkway – that included 20 and 24-storey towers comprising 550 residential units, 325 build-to-rent units, three levels of basement car parking and ground-floor commercial tenancies.
It said the $232 million Belconnen Central development was too big for the site and failed a host of planning rules.
JW Land resubmitted the proposal late last year, swapping three towers for two but adding three BTR units, creating a pedestrian link between Cohen Street and Swanston Court and adding more shopfronts.
The residential units were to be housed in two 20-storey towers, and the BTR units in a 24-storey tower.
However, after more talks with the Planning Authority, the developer has resubmitted a slightly scaled-back version and changed the build-to-rent component to serviced apartments.
The two residential towers have been reduced to 18 and 19 storeys, now containing 495 units, and the serviced apartments tower to 23, with 292 units and amenities.
A ‘penthouse’ level of three-bedroom dwellings has also been created in the 19-storey tower to make the unit mix more diverse.
The dwelling mix now has 200 one-bedroom units, 286 two-bedrooms units and nine three-bedroom units for sale.
In the commercial building, there will be 149 one-bedroom units, 71 one-bedroom plus study and 72 two-bedrooms.
A total of 980 sqm of commercial space is proposed, including 689 sqm of retail and 291 sqm for a cafe or restaurant.
The development is to sit on four levels of sleeved above-ground and podium parking, and three levels of basement parking, and the developer says there are several ground levels.
Parking will include 168 spaces for the public as required, 573 for dwellings and 324 for commercial use.
There will also be 933 bicycle spaces in storage cages for residents, occupants of serviced apartments and employees, 30 public bicycle spaces and 30 motorcycle spaces.
This new submission also addresses a number of other concerns from the Planning Authority.
These include better facades and changes to allow more natural light into the buildings and improve ventilation.
Belconnen Community Council chair Lachlan Butler said the development proposal could have benefited from more talks with the community after being so comprehensively rejected.
Mr Butler said many people had concerns about this development and it was disappointing that people didn’t get more input.
“There were some positive changes with more commercial mixed-use, a better pedestrian link, and the split into three towers to break up the bulk and scale,” he said.
“Still, it feels like a missed opportunity with the bus interchange and the prime location in the town centre.”
Mr Butler said it appeared the developer had made many small changes to get the proposal through rather than consider whether it was the right fit for the site.
He said the council welcomed more housing in the town centre but in a thoughtful way, along with greater vibrancy on the ground so residents would explore their own neighbourhood and support local businesses.
Comments can be made on the Reconsideration application until 8 July.
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