Manningham City Council

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Westfield owner and manager Scentre Group has sought an amendment to the Manningham planning scheme in order to allow for a sizeable expansion of Westfield Doncaster.

Manningham City Council are currently considering the application for what is known as for the Manningham Planning Scheme Amendment C104. Scentre Group is seeking the right to add approximately 43,000sqm of additional gross retail lettable area and 18,000sqm of additional commercial office space, which they believe will support increased employment opportunities on Doncaster Hill.

In addition a revamped bus interchange and parking for 2,500 vehicles is included within the masterplan, with the latter spread over basement and multi-storey options.

According to application documents Westfield Doncaster which covers 58 hectares is seeking to become "a ‘state of the art’, contemporary, sustainable, high-density, mixed-use village that enhances the social, environmental, economic and cultural elements of the region."

A visual marker for the redevelopment is expected in the form of a new commercial tower which will front Williamsons Road. The aforementioned office space will be located over ten levels set above six basement levels and a retail podium, with the height of the tower capped at approximately 50 metres.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image2tract.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A sought after built form outcome. Planning image: Tract Consultants"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="246" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image2tract.jpg?itok=dgKZSkZA" title="A sought after built form outcome. Planning image: Tract Consultants" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A sought after built form outcome. Planning image: Tract Consultants</figcaption></figure>Along with the new bus interchange which has been designed in consultation with Public Transport Victoria and bus operator Transdev, a new public forecourt of some 400sqm will also front Williamsons Road. As well as providing a common entrance for both commercial and retail uses, the public forecourt will act as new a public amenity and meeting space.

As defined within the application, new opportunities for the public realm include:

<ul>
<li>New street interfaces which should incorporate architectural and landscape design and pedestrian-generating and retail activities at street level to support a better pedestrian experience.</li>
	<li>Relocated and expanded forecourt/entry with active frontages in appropriate locations to establish a vibrant public space along Williamsons Road.</li>
	<li>Potential upper level public space above Williamsons Road to provide passive surveillance and take advantage of views over surrounding area and Melbourne CBD.</li>
	<li>Establish appropriate landscaping to provide shade in the public realm, soften built form and acoustic walls, and further enhance Williamsons Road boulevard.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Current development</h2>

With the prospect of another large-scale expansion on the cards, Scentre Group have acted upon an existing planning permit to alleviate the demand for car parking onsite.

Currently two tower cranes are servicing an expansion of the multideck car park toward the eastern border of the site, bound by Grosvenor Street to the north and Goodson Street to the south. This build will allow for an additional 550 plus vehicle spaces.

With onsite car parking set to expand beyond 4,770 spaces, a hefty 7,430 car parking spaces slated for the future Westfield Doncaster according to the Urban Design Report which accompanies Amendment C104.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_3624_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Westfield's current expansion is well into construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="370" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_3624_0.jpg?itok=ak3IsO__" title="Westfield's current expansion is well into construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Westfield's current expansion is well into construction</figcaption></figure><h2>Comment: hard act to follow</h2>

Westfield Doncaster's most recent mass development was completed seven years ago. Since that time Eastland, Chadstone, Highpoint, The Glen and Westfield Knox have all or are in the process of undertaking exceptionally large expansions.

In the face of such competition the current Westfield Doncaster expansion looks to be Scentre Group's play at keeping the facility on par with its competitors, but can it deliver on amenity and on key public realm upgrades? Late last year Eastland managed to distinguish itself from the pack by way of a highly <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/a-new-public-realm-for-ringwood">inclusive and activated public realm</a> which acts as a quasi town centre.

Could Westfield Doncaster deliver a similar outcome? Well on the face of it, no.

The Doncaster centre is still heavily car dependent while Eastland has rail and bus options on its doorstep (what residents of Doncaster would give for that!) with the newly finished Ringwood Station upgrade providing no shortage of foot traffic. Williamsons Road and Doncaster road are wide, inhospitable thoroughfares that don't promote mass foot traffic.

How Westfield Doncaster's upcoming forecourt intends to accommodate and retail pedestrian life when wedged between an eight lane road and the centre itself shapes as an interesting design challenge.
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silvermb

Westfield Doncaster seeks further expansion, but can it better interact with its surrounds?

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Friday marked the commencement of the latest apartment project to call Doncaster Hill home. <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/gardenhill-5-elgar-court-doncaster">Gardenhill</a> has been awarded to Kew-based contractor Hacer, with the $77 million project set for completion at the turn of 2017.

Gardenhill is the seventh apartment project currently under construction within Doncaster Hill, Manningham City Council's vision for an "Integrated planning approach to creating a sustainable, contemporary mixed-use centre, comprising apartment style living opportunities, retail, commercial, social, community and entertainment facilities."

Apartments have ruled the roost since the inception of the Doncaster Hill Strategy during the early 2000's, with the current seven medium and high-density projects under construction an all-time high.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/gh.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Woods Bagot-designed Gardenhill"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="381" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/gh.jpg?itok=zfxvMOrd" title="The Woods Bagot-designed Gardenhill" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Woods Bagot-designed Gardenhill</figcaption></figure>Present at the ceremony held onsite on Friday was the Victorian Minister for Finance Hon. Robin Scott, along with Malaysian Minister for Industry and Trade Dato’ Lee Chee Leong and Manningham Mayor Cr. Paul McLeish. Gardenhill is a joint project between Melbourne-based Beulah International and Malaysian firm Fajarbaru Group.

Designed by Woods Bagot, the project will see 136 apartments added to Doncaster Hill, creating 200 construction jobs over the life of the build. Also included within the project is a Jack Merlo-designed rooftop garden and entertainment area, plus Australia’s first Dog Park within an apartment complex.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image128.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Recent images of Doncaster Hill's construction progress"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="726" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image128.jpg?itok=ig2oZQIJ" title="Recent images of Doncaster Hill's construction progress" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Recent images of Doncaster Hill's construction progress</figcaption></figure>Hacer has been an active builder at Doncaster hill for some time, recently delivering the 96-apartment Imperial Doncaster project in addition to their current <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/pearl-1-grosvenor-street-doncaster">Pearl Doncaster</a> project on behalf of Singapore-based Ho Bee Land. Due for completion during early 2016, Pearl will see 172 apartments created over two buildings.

Other projects of note at construction include <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/88-doncaster-hill-88-tram-road-doncaster">88 Doncaster Hill</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/83-on-tram-83-tram-road-doncaster">83 on Tram</a>, with <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/panorama-101-tram-road-doncaster">Panorama</a> at 101 Tram Road also rising quickly. Set back from Doncaster Road is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/magnolia-doncaster-hill-22-hepburn-road-doncaster">Magnolia Doncaster Hill</a> which is the precinct's tallest build to date at 14 levels with <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/8-hepburn-road-doncaster">8 Hepburn Road</a> nearby also under construction.

These seven projects are in the process of adding 898 additional dwellings to Doncaster Hill while forthcoming builds on 'The Hill' as identified by Urban.com.au will see in excess of 300 additional apartments constructed over three projects, namely Ellia, Arbor Doncaster and Nest at the Hill.
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