West melbourne structure plan findings Report

3. INFLUENCES

The key influences to which this structure plan responds are detailed in Part 2 of this report. In summary they include the following:

Character

The existing character of the area is an important consideration in preparing the structure plan. However, it is not the exclusive consideration in some instances, where a change to existing character is supported by strategic planning policy.

Context

The future planning of West Melbourne must have regard to its surrounds and to the planning policies and the strategic directions applicable to areas such as the CBD, Docklands and North Melbourne.

Strategic planning

Given the location of the study area adjacent to the CAD, both State and local government planning policies are relevant in terms of influencing the future planning of the area. West Melbourne is not a designated activity centre in Melbourne 2030, but it is located adjacent to the CAD, which is the primary activity centre in the metropolitan area. Council planning policies seek to focus higher density housing and commercial activity in the municipality in areas such as the CBD, Docklands and Southbank. Council's Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS), in relation to North and West Melbourne, seeks to:

* achieve a truly mixed use liveable environment that provides an appropriate balance of residential and commercial development of different scales;
* protect existing industries and service business activities and support further commercial uses that are compatible with residential uses;
* encourage high design quality of public and private environments whilst respecting local character, heritage and amenity; and
* reinforce the built form transition between the Central City, Docklands and Southbank and surrounding areas. That is, West Melbourne is envisaged to have a lower built form scale.
The MSS also aims to reinforce the built form transition between the CBD, Docklands and Southbank and the surrounding areas. That is, West Melbourne is envisaged to have a lower built form scale.
In the gazettal of Amendment C20 to the planning scheme, The C20 panel recommended that a Structure Plan be developed for West Melbourne to resolve an appropriate height for the area between Latrobe and Dudley Street.

Economic factors

Key considerations in relation to the likely demand for major land uses in the study area include the following:

Small to medium sized offices

- Potential demand for small to medium sized offices including home offices is likely to continue to exist throughout the study area generally. This includes refurbished industrial buildings, new infill developments in mixed use areas, office uses within the lower levels of multi storey residential buildings etc. Demand for small to medium sized offices is likely to be able to compete with demand for medium density residential uses within the Mixed Use Zone, where the scale of residential development is restricted by building height controls that prevent high rise development from occurring.
High density residential - Potential exists for high (i.e. maximum 10 storeys) density residential development in the southern parts of the study area, especially to the south of Dudley Street. The potential is also likely to exist for this form of development elsewhere throughout the study area, depending on site size and the constraints posed by heritage, built form, amenity and character issues.
Medium density residential development - Potential demand is likely to exist for medium density residential development (i.e. up to 4 storeys) in most parts of the study area generally. This may take the form of refurbishment of industrial buildings or new infill development. Residential uses are likely to progressively replace business uses, especially industrial uses, unless direct planning intervention occurs.

Industrial and service uses

- Continued demand will exist for industrial and service uses close to the CAD. However in the Mixed Use Zone, where higher order residential and office uses can locate, industrial uses are likely to be phased out over time unless direct planning intervention occurs which enables Council to manage the amount of residential and office redevelopment that occurs via the planning permit process.
Mixed use developments - Some opportunity exists for a mix of uses within the one building. This could take the form of ground floor retail and lower floor offices in a multi storey residential building.
Forecast residential development and population growth - New dwelling and population forecasts prepared by the City of Melbourne identify that between 2001 and 2016, around 1,120 new dwellings are anticipated to be constructed in West Melbourne. The population of the area is forecast to more than double from 2,657 in 2001 to 5,069 in 2016.

Traffic Influences

Key vehicular traffic influences include the high levels of traffic traversing the study area via King Street and Spencer Street.

4. VISION

This section provides a statement of the overall role envisaged for West Melbourne and the adjoining mixed use areas. The vision statement sets the overall framework within which the detailed objectives, strategies and implementation of the Structure Plan have been formed. The term "West Melbourne" will henceforth synonymously be used for "West Melbourne and the adjoining mixed use areas".

The vision for West Melbourne is:
1. West Melbourne will evolve as a high amenity, mixed use residential and employment area. New development will be sympathetic, respectful and interpretative of heritage characteristics. Higher building forms will emerge over time in the CBD fringe precinct, whilst lower scale streetscapes will be retained in the remainder of the area.
2. The area bounded by Dudley Street, King Street, Hawke Street and the railway yards will contain a mix of older buildings interspersed with infill development and refurbishments. Infill development will respect the 19th century built form of the area. The scale of development will step down from the CBD at La Trobe Street, and from Dudley Street to areas to the north.
3. The radial streets running from the railyards to King Street will be landscaped to achieve their full potential. Combined with measures to reduce heavy vehicle traffic and provide additional open space, the amenity of this central part of West Melbourne will be substantially improved.
The traditional community focus of the central and northern parts of the area towards North Melbourne and the Errol Street shopping precinct will be strengthened by improved pedestrian links and an improved range of community services and facilities.
4. The CBD fringe precinct will accommodate higher density residential and commercial activities, due to proximity the CBD. This area will have a mix of taller buildings sympathetically interspersed with existing lower scale heritage buildings and more recently completed developments. Requirements for low level podiums will provide streetscapes that reflect a human scale, even where taller buildings occur.
5. Community services and facilities required to accommodate the anticipated population increases in the study area and its surrounding areas will continue to be located in the vicinity of the Errol Street shopping precinct. A small local centre will emerge around North Melbourne Station. It will be of a scale that does not prejudice Errol Street shopping precinct's role as the central activity centre for the whole North and West Melbourne area.
6. Improve and extend public transport services into the area.
Longer term initiatives that will be further explored include improving access linkages between the West Melbourne precinct and Carlton, and redevelopment of the North Melbourne Rail Corridor.