‘More Barcelona, Less Gold Coast’: Council Objects to Pace Plans

A scathing review from Melbourne’s deputy lord mayor is a major setback for Pace Development Group’s quadruple tower plans.

Council took a strong position objecting to the plans by Hayball Architects and the developer for the site at 68-102 and 103 Alfred Street and 87-105 Racecourse Road, North Melbourne.

The 7,557sq m site is one of the largest and earlier applications in the Arden-Macaulay urban renewal area and is expected to set a precedent for design in the area.

The application is for one 9-storey and three 12-storey buildings and is now expected to be reviewed by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

The plans include 358 apartments, 5023sq m of commercial space, 1835sq m of childcare, 595sq m retail as well as 542sq m public plaza, a 586sq m private courtyard and shared paths.

Related: Pace's Flemington Racecourse Apartments Move Ahead

The deputy lord mayor said they don’t want to see another Docklands or Southbank they want a new part of Melbourne with its own distinct identity and character and midrise developments.

“We want to see an area that doesn't just replicate the podium tower structures that we seen in so many other parts of the city,” Reece said.

“To boil it down we want to see more Barcelona and less Gold Coast in Macaulay, we want to see more Copenhagen not Kuala Lumpur here.

“We really want to see projects that knit together the industrial heritage of the Arden-Macaulay precinct with the workers cottages that you see through North Melbourne and Kensington and also links back to the central city.”

Pace did not have any comments on council’s decision but would continue to work to find a solution for the site pending the VCAT proceedings.

The Melbourne-based developer was previously approved to build the tallest approved towers nearby, reaching 11-storeys and also designed by Hayball Architects.