Metrowest is a major, strategic site in the Sunshine Activity Centre, Victoria. The project is the first high density, mixed-use development for the area and provides a Green Star office building, ground level retail and residential apartments.

On purchasing the site, our client inherited what seemed an unworkable and unviable development permit. Past failed attempts by developers for this site, which is a critical component of the wider Structure Plan, had made Council negative to the new owner.

Meinhardt Planning adopted a collaborative planning strategy involving an extensive process of design and planning workshops. The approach was not about simply obtaining a decision and ‘winning’ this planning challenge – instead we sought to work with Council to find a long term, viable, practical, yet imaginative planning solution.

Other consultants may have simply taken the project to VCAT to obtain a decision on the clients preferred scheme. Our alternative successfully avoided the need for lengthy, costly VCAT hearings. We achieved planning approval for the revised scheme in a compressed timeframe, delivering a greater yield for the client and a development outcome that also works for the Council and the local community