Forgot your password?
Waterloo Metro - Developer goes for fourth tower
This image shows what is proposed against what has already been approved for Waterloo Metro
The initial approved Concept plan was for three residential towers. The developer managed to get this changed so the Northern building came down in height to create larger commercial rather than residential floorplates. The developer now says that since Covid commercial is no longer viable and they wish to revert to a mainly residential development.
Rather than do straight commercial housing, the developers are proposing a second building that would house 448 “student / co-living” rooms in its own tower. Co-living is the new term that covers some student housing as well as new boarding houses and the proposal does not say exactly what is proposed. The student tower to the south has 474 co-living student units.
The balance two towers would see 50 additional market residential units bringing the total to 176. The proposal maintains the minimum 5% residential gross floor area as affordable housing increasing affordable housing from 24 to 40. There is also an increase in retail space and a decrease in community space with a small amount of office space retained.
The changes, if they are approved would increase overshadowing on the new Waterloo park approved for the eastern side of Cope Street opposite the Metro.
The Waterloo Second Amending Concept DA_Scoping_Dec24 can be found on the Planning Portal along with two complementary requests for requirements to change the associated approved Development Applications. Observant locals may notice that the illustration on the cover of the Concept DA report wrongly shows Cope Street as Copeland Street, which is a few blocks away in Alexandria.
The application says the developer will consult community stakeholders after it obtains the planning requirements. The proposal for the planning requirements gives an initial indication of what the developer wants to do on the site but they need to undertake studies and other consultations so the proposal that finally goes to exhibition may be different.
REDWatch will endeavour to organise a meeting when the developer is ready to talk to the community about its proposal.
