Have your say on 19-storey tower proposed at Pentridge Prison
It has become somewhat of a Christmas tradition: at the end of the year, the developers of Pentridge Prison advertise a major permit over the Christmas period (whether by coincidence or design), at the time when the community is the most preoccupied. In 2013, it was the controversial demolition of H-Division. In 2014, a proposal for a childcare centre was advertised in November. And in 2015, as if on cue, a permit application for a 19-storey tower proposed by the Shayher group appeared on Heritage Victoria’s website in the lead-up to Christmas. The usual 14-day comment period had been extended to 21 days due to Christmas, however due to public pressure and calls by Kelvin Thomson MP, Member for Wills, Heritage Victoria has advised that submissions will be accepted up to the end of January.
Kelvin Thomson, along with the National Trust, local resident Professor Michael Hamel-Green, and Moreland Councillor Sue Bolton, will lead a protest meeting this Saturday 16 January at 11am, outside the Boot Factory Cafe, to listen to community views about this proposal, which would forever change Pentridge’s historic skyline, encroaching on the historic wall and guard tower, and towering over nearby B Division.
The tower, located near the corner of Pentridge Boulevard and Stockade Avenue, is a new iteration of a previously approved scheme by the failed Valad Group, which did not materialise. Current owners the Shayer Group’s vision for the site was outlined in a revised masterplan incorporated in 2014, which foreshadows the tower (albeit 16 storeys, rather than the proposed 19), along with further development on the site. While the masterplan provides the strategic vision for the site, the developer is required to seek individual permits for each stage. This provides the National Trust, and the community, an opportunity to have our say on the future of this site.
Have Your Say
Submissions about the proposed tower can be made to Heritage Victoria until 31 January 2016. Submissions may be emailed to [email protected] or posted to Heritage Victoria, PO Box 500, Melbourne, VIC 8002.
The permit documents advertised by Heritage Victoria, including plans and a Heritage Impact Statement, can be downloaded below:
View the National Trust’s submission here – P22644 National Trust submission
If you have any concerns or queries, contact Felicity Watson, Senior Community Advocate, on 9656 9818 or or by email.
No!!!!!
I believe that the proposed design should be more in keeping with the surrounding developments and the height lessened to be more proportional to the surrounding look of the towers and height of the blue stone walls. The visual impact would be lessened if the height were reduced to 8 storeys.
And the 16 storey tower previously permitted for the southwest corner, THE most prominent position, has been resurrected…..