The first highrise build-to-rent tower to get planning approval in Melbourne is making its way through the planning process yet again as it gets referred to the City of Melbourne Council.
Salta Properties’ project at 695-699 La Trobe Street, Docklands, initially got planning support from the City of Melbourne’s Future Melbourne Committee in 2019.
That set up the then Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne to grant planning permission.
However, Salta has now filed new plans for the 2692sq m site with the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning for a 38-storey tower designed by architects Fender Katsalidis.
Those plans have now been referred to the City of Melbourne Council where, after a period of exhibition, the Future Melbourne Committee will determine if they support the application or not.
It will then be up to the current Victorian planning minister Sonya Kilkenny to make the final determination as the relevant authority.
Salta filed the new plans with the Department in February 2025.
The tower would have seven podium levels for both apartments and 114 carparking bays with amenities on the seventh and 37th floors.
There would be a total of 560 build-to-rent apartments with a residents’ lounge, bicycle workshop, cafe, a co-working area, a fitness centre, a pool, a wellness room and services within the podium.
The 37th floor would have dining areas, lounges, adaptive spaces and external amenity areas.
There would be 126 studio apartments, 183 one-bedroom apartments, 219 two-bedroom apartments and 32 three-bedroom apartments.
Rainwater tanks, electrical pumps and 401 bicycle storage spaces would be included in the basement level with another 34 bicycle storage spaces on the ground floor.
In 2019, it was reported that richlisters the Tarascio family, who own Salta Properties, were likely to hold off on developing the project till the development cycle was more favourable.
The previous version of the plans, while also designed by Fender Katsalidis, included a hotel component with 276 apartments, 197 hotel rooms and 26 serviced apartments across 26 storeys.
There is no hotel component included in the proposed application before DTP and the City of Melbourne.
In 2019 the end value of the project was estimated at $330 million.
The site is next door to the Marvel Stadium and Home Docklands, a project with two build-to-rent towers.
Salta Properties was contacted for comment prior to publication.
