Amendment Approved for Assemble's Darebin Mixed-Use Site

A mixed-use development will now be on the cards for a site at Preston after the Victorian planning minister approved an amendment to the planning scheme. 

Assemble Communities and Housing Choices Australia Limited are listed as the developers for the site at 30 St Georges Road, 32-36 Oakover Road and 47 and 49 Showers Street. 

The amendment rezones the land from residential growth zoning to mixed-use with Victorian planning minister Sonya Kilkenny the responsible authority. 

Darebin City Council previously opposed the project about 10km north-east of the Melbourne CBD despite the municipality desperately needing more housing.

Jackson Clement Burrows Architects drew up the plans for the site. 

Planning permission for the site approves the use and development of the site for four buildings with 480 apartments, a supermarket, retail space, office space and food and beverage spaces.

There is also some alteration to access to a road and a reduction in the carparking requirement.

The plans were recommended to go through the Development Facilitation Program on the basis that it is shovel ready and will have significant short-to-medium-term outcomes that will allow it to be assessed and determined faster. 

Affordable housing is a key part of the plans for the site as is achieving a 63 per cent rating on the Built Environment Sustainability Scorecard and a 7.5 stars NatHERS rating.

There will be a 20 per cent provision for social housing. 

A central open space that will be open to the public is also part of the project. 

▲ Darebin City Council has also opposed development plans for the Preston Market site despite a need for housing in the municipality.

Shops and services are easily accessible on High Street and at Preston Junction as are train and rail services. 

The four buildings will have a maximum height of 15 storeys.

An estimated $108 million will be spent on the project with around 936 short-term construction jobs and 206 ongoing jobs created. 

Darebin City Council has also previously opposed development on the site of the Preston Market, which is partly owned by Salta Properties. 

CoreLogic records show that 47 Showers Street was bought in May 2018 for $1.8 million and 49 Showers Street in August 2017 for $1.25 million.

The rest of the site was listed as one lot with the address 40 Oakover Road and sold in November 2013 for $5.4 million. 

It encompasses 30 St Georges Road and 32-36 Oakover Road.