Controversial 14-storey tower approved – on a single CBD block
A social housing apartment building will soon tower over Whitmore Square, despite public feedback overwhelmingly opposing the build.
A 14-level residential building containing 36 units – all of which will be offered as social housing – has been given the green light by the state’s top planners.
The State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) on Wednesday approved the Whitmore Square tower, designed by architecture firm tectvs and to be developed by Future Urban on behalf of superfund Obenox.
It got the green light despite overwhelming public opposition to the tower, which was mostly against the building’s proposed height.
The building will rise at 8 Hocking Place, Adelaide, currently home to a single-storey dwelling which will be demolished to make way for the social housing tower, directly next to a string of affordable eco-housing buildings at 44-50 Whitmore Square.
Public consultation generated 78 representations, with the majority opposing the development (69 opposed, four supported and five supported with concerns), according to SCAP.
“The key matter identified during the assessment related primarily to the building’s height,” the SCAP report reads.
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“While the proposed height exceeds a numerical guideline, the primary question is whether this height is appropriate in the context of the city’s desired high-rise form and character.
“Other matters included the building’s design merit and whether the development should be a mixed-use building instead of purely residential.”
SCAP’s assessment concluded the development had “sufficient merit to warrant consent”. The fact that it will be 100 per cent social housing also outweighs other issues about the proposed tower, according to the report.
At 47.5 metres tall, the planned tower will exceed height limits for the area, meaning an exception has been made for the development to go ahead.
Concerns were also raised in submissions about the concentration of social housing in a single building, which was “not a responsible or supportive solution for vulnerable people”.
Further, submissions said the “concentration of social housing around Whitmore Square will exacerbate existing public health and safety issues in the area, including drug use, violence and anti-social behaviour”.
The SCAP report said the proposed development was “considered an appropriate and high-quality response to the site and the wider context, despite exceeding the maximum building height”.
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“The development provides a substantial additional gain in sustainability by providing 100 per cent social housing,” the SCAP report said.
“This social outcome, alongside the project providing no carparking, a canopied walkway along Hocking place, fronting the parklands, and more than 15 per cent affordable housing, allows the development to achieve at least four criteria and quality for over-height consideration.”
Adelaide City Councillor Janet Giles – who lives at Whitmore Square and made a representation to the SCAP meeting on Wednesday – said she was “disappointed” in the decision.
She said her opposition to the tower was “not a NIMBY situation” and that the tower would exacerbate pre-existing issues in Whitmore Square.
“Our main concern with the tower is that it’s in a location which is not suitable for such a high building,” she told InDaily.
“It’s in an area where we, at the moment, are trying to deal with a whole lot of issues around drug and alcohol use and homelessness.
“It’s adding another dimension to the issues we’re already trying to deal with in Whitmore Square.”
She said it was “out of place”: “Some people in the neighbourhood are calling it a middle finger to the neighbourhood, because it’s just sticking up and not taking into consideration the houses around it”.
“South west of Adelaide has the lion’s share of social services and social housing, but it might be time to look at how we can spread the diversity around the rest of the city.”
The approved development must now be substantially commenced within two years and completed within three years.
