A development application for the construction of an eight-storey residential tower in Larrakeyah, on the site of an old elevated house, has been lodged with the Development Consent Authority.
SR Developments, which has projects in Melbourne and Darwin, is behind the plan for the 11-unit building at 150 Smith St, Larrakeyah.
According to the development application the tower will be made up of 10, two-bedroom apartments, and one, five-bedroom penthouse which will take up the top two floors.
The property sits across from the old Asti Motel redevelopment site.
In the application, the developers wrote that the site area is 992 sq m, but the total density proposed is 1110 sq m, which is over the allowed density by a margin of one apartment.
The developers said the development complies with the residential plot ratio of 5.4.19, and thus they submitted it was an appropriate density for this site.
“This density for this designed apartment product is required to ensure project feasibility in Darwin within an environment of high interest rates and escalating construction costs,” the developers wrote.
“It is necessary to grant these apartments to remain a profitable project that is likely to get built.
“The development proposes significantly above the minimum requirements for car parks, bicycle parks, landscaping, communal open space, private open space, building facilities and residential space.
“It also proposes a unique hanging green wall and reticulated design to minimise the affect of this densification on building amenity.”
The site has two eight-storey residential buildings on either side of it, the Imperial at 144 Smith St, and the Chelsea at 148 Smith St.
The plans also show that 30 per cent of the site area, including communal open space, or 297.60 sq m, is to be landscaped.
However information from the Planning Department shows the developer misapplied the relevant zoning scheme, with standard higher density zones like in Larrakeyah having no density limit.
Planning Action Network convener Nick Kirlew said it was sad that there was no density limit in Larrakeyah.
“Also the development exhibition periods are now so short there is limited time available for public opinion to be formed. Two weeks is clearly not long enough, particularly in a school holiday time,” Mr Kirlew said.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article said there was a density limit for Larrkeyah. That was wrong and we apologise for the error.
Planning Action Network convener Nick Kirlew sells home loans to people who need to buy property
I dont understand how you can be against this development while
(a) your in the business of selling loans to buy property
(b) the rents are so high that it is unconscionable conduct to stop more apartments being developed, thus keeping the status quo of rents remaining high!
(c) After the protests at Lee Point to stop DHA houses being built, the Defence force is moving a Adelaide regiment to Darwin and Townsville. Where O Where will these HIGHLY RENT SUSBIDISED soldiers be staying and at what insane level will that Rent Subsidy effect renters trying to compete with them?
IF any one needs a home loan please call Nick Kirlew on 0447499794