An Architectus proposal for two towers has been knocked back by the Department of Planning on the advice of the state government architect.
The proposed $146-million residential, retail and hotel development on the site of the former Stamford Plaza at Double Bay was deemed “intrusive” by Peter Mould.
“The towers are intrusive elements and, as such, the development is unacceptable in its current form,” Mould said in his report. “Due to the significant detrimental impact of the towers on the village character of the Double Bay Town Centre the development is not recommended for approval,” he said.
The major problem lies with the bulk and form of the 11-storey and 14-storey towers and that the project itself was “architecturally well resolved”, Mould told Architecture & Design.
“The proposal demonstrates good design in aspects of the architecture, open space design, finishes and materials, the scale of the podium to the street and an active street frontage,” he said.
Planning minister, Kristina Keneally, said her decision followed months of rigorous assessment by the Department of Planning, a 52-day community feedback period and two independent reviews.
Minister Keneally denied that the outspoken opposition of the local community heavily weighted the decision.
“While some community feedback related to potential view impacts, my decision was primarily based on the proposal’s inconsistency with the character of the Double Bay town centre,” she said.
“The town centre sits within a valley floor and includes few developments extending above the existing mature tree canopy. This proposal for towers of 11 and 14 storeys was not in keeping with that,” she said.
The 19,500sqm proposal includes a 69-room, five-star hotel, 44 residential apartments, ground floor shops and an open air piazza.
While this proposal was “controversial”, Keneally said that it was “assessed on its merits”.
