Melbourne's King Street tower gets government approval

A 64-storey mostly residential mixed-use tower on Melbourne's King Street that ran into trouble with the local council has been finally approved by the Victorian government.

The 431-apartment tower by developer Farinia will come up at 295-309 King Street and comprises two existing sites at the north-western corner of King and Little Lonsdale streets – an area earmarked by the Victorian government for high-density urban renewal, a media release said.

A council spokesman said it remained concerned the tower was "an overdevelopment of the site", had inadequate setbacks and would have a negative impact on nearby Nicholson Place, according to brisbanetimes.com.au. 

The council cautioned that the skyscraper could create a recess used by homeless people sleeping rough.

The 208-metre circular tower, inspired by Brancusi’s ‘Bird in Space’ 1923, will have one, two and three-bedroom types plus nine luxury penthouse apartments.

The original plan for the tower was for a 269-metre, 80 storey tower with 603 apartments, but the developer had to cut back on the number of levels to win approval.

Approval for the tower came under old planning rules in the CBD that have now been superseded by stricter controls, according to the Australian Financial Review.

One level of the project has been dedicated to communal amenities and shared residential activities.

At street level, the development will include both retail and laneway lobbies and cafes will spill out on to the street.  

The tower, with a facade of glass, comprises three sections: the base, an upper, flared section that offers views of Flagstaff Gardens and beyond, and a central transitional section that connects the base to the soaring form above.