Reality of tower blocks exposed to daylight

The 120-metre tower of up to 36 storeys and a neighbouring 100-metre tower, detailed yesterday in plans for the former Carlton & United Breweries site at Broadway, have confirmed fears of residents who had warned the area would become a "mini-Manhattan on steroids".

But the NSW executive director of the Property Council, Ken Morrison, said that was a "completely unjustified reaction".

"If we're serious about having sustainable cities, then we have to go through with these opportunities otherwise we're forcing more housing on the fringes of the city. And anyway, to counter the ugliness of the UTS building, you need a bit of height."

The site's owner, Foster's, has increased the proposed density of dwellings above the limits set by City of Sydney Council. The development application, which went on exhibition yesterday for 30 days, allows for 1690 apartments.

The council lost planning control of the $2 billion development to the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, in June.

If he approves the proposal it would pave the way for one of the country's biggest private urban renewal projects.

As many as 50 buildings, including at least two office blocks, would house almost 3000 residents and 5000 workers. The 5.8-hectare site would include some retail space and a 5000-square metre park that Foster's says would be flooded by sunlight between noon and 2pm in midwinter.

But a Chippendale resident, Lindsay Charles, said the tower blocks would mean at least a third of units would get sunlight for no more than those two hours in midwinter. "The same goes for the park at the rear of the site, and for many terraces and offices in Chippendale. If a project like this can't look after its own, then it's simply overdevelopment. The residents will all be at work between midday and 2pm so what use is sunlight then?"

The Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, echoed her concerns, saying: "If the plan is adopted, significant heritage buildings on the site will be lost, density of development on the site will increase significantly and there will be greater overshadowing of the proposed public parkland."

But the claims were described as "total rubbish" by the project director hired by Foster's, Brian Challen. "I can assure you the development will receive high levels of residential amenity, including sunlight, as detailed in the government planning policy.

"There are some buildings being approved in the city that get no sunlight at all; they're totally in the shade. This is a considerable improvement on that."

Under the planning policy at least 70 per cent of apartments must have at least two hours of sun in midwinter. The architect Michael Grave, of Cox/ATA, said that had been well accounted for.

Residents are also concerned the increased density will affect roads such as Broadway that are already choked. "They should be looking at reducing car usage in a development this close to public transport," Ms Charles said.

Under the final proposal four more items of heritage value would make way for a new street through the development.

[REDWatch - The Plans for the CUB proposal can be found at http://www.cubproject.com.au/]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/reality-of-tower-blocks-exposed-to-daylight/2006/10/26/1161749260134.html