City of Charles Sturt, Fairland unveil bid for 400 homes up to five storeys at former Metcash site
A huge industrial site in Adelaide’s west could make way for up to 400 new homes under rezoning plans – including apartments up to five storeys high.
Apartments up to five storeys high could be built on a former industrial site in Adelaide’s west under a rezoning proposal by the local council.
Local developer Fairland acquired the former Metcash distribution centre last year, unveiling plans to build up to 250 traditional homes and townhouses across 12ha of land.
However a development code amendment proposed by the City of Charles Sturt would allow for development up to five storeys, boosting the number of new homes to up to 400.
The site, bounded by Findon and Valetta roads, the River Torrens and existing housing on its western side, has been described as the largest remaining infill development site in Adelaide’s western suburbs.
Rezoning the land to an Urban Renewal Neighbourhood Zone would allow for a mix of higher-density housing and commercial development.
A concept plan prepared by the council envisages a three-storey height limit across most of the site, rising to four storeys around an area of public open space at the southern end, and five storeys on a pocket of land near the corner of Findon Rd and the river.
Mixed-use commercial development is proposed for the northeastern corner of the site, at the corner of Findon and Valetta roads.
“Larger infill sites present an opportunity to achieve co-ordinated development at higher densities and with better-quality built form and public-realm outcomes,” the draft development code amendment says.
“Consequently, the affected area provides an opportunity to deliver approximately 12.6ha of new residential land in a planned and co-ordinated manner, reducing the reliance upon minor infill to meet housing demand in the City of Charles Sturt.
“Under a low- to medium-density residential scenario, the subject land is anticipated to yield in the order of 350-400 dwellings with the potential for approximately five higher-density apartment sites.”
Fairland, which owns close to 95 per cent of the 12.6ha site being considered for rezoning, is funding the rezoning process.
A public consultation period closes on Tuesday next week before a public meeting on June 20.
The development code amendment will then be considered by the state government for final approval.
Fairland declined to comment, referring inquiries to the council. The City of Charles Sturt has been contacted for comment.
Fairland, the development arm of Fairmont Group, paid $41.5m for the former industrial site last year following Metcash’s move to a new $80m distribution centre in Gepps Cross.
At the time Fairland general manager Scott Searle said he expected the master-planned residential project would comprise of a mix of traditional housing and townhouses.
“We see the development here being one that has a mixture of housing types from small lots through to more traditional single- and two-storey housing,” he said following the acquisition.
“There will be opportunities for townhouse development – two-storey, three-storey – but we don’t think the site is ultimately needed to contain apartments or other styles of higher-density development.”