Southbank Tower’s Extra Height Wins Approval

Plans to add extra storeys to a proposed Southbank apartment tower have been approved by the City of Melbourne despite numerous objections—and one councillor expressing his sympathies for those who will be affected by the building.

The $43-million development would now be 73-metres high with 174 apartments and ground floor retail across the 24-storey tower at the 83-89 Coventry Street site.

There were 66 objections to the plans as well as a landowner representative, from the neighbouring Kings Domain, who spoke at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting.

The major concerns surrounded the tower's height, shadowing and its appropriateness.

The plane for the tower, which was designed by Bruce Henderson Architects, was lodged by developers under the Victton Pty Ltd entity directed by Yijie Li, Jie Huang and Jeffrey Zhao Yu Li.

The application on built plans for 143 apartments across 20 storeys was approved in 2018.

This tower would replace an existing three-storey commercial building on the 975.9sq m corner site.

Deputy lord mayor Nicholas Reece said the application compiled with planning, was thoughtful, elegant and visually interesting.

“I do think there have been some significant improvements that have been made to this revised application,” Reece said.

Councillor Rohan Leppert said the design objectives were deemed to be met, as there was a new height precedent in the area.

“I do sympathise with those whose views are impacted, not that that is a direct planning consideration for us,” Leppert said.

Southbank is home to the city’s tallest residential tower Australia 108 which will soon be outdone by Beulah’s “green spine” towers.