June 2026
This development on the site of Leo’s supermarket in Kew Junction was recently approved by the State Govt, and I’m surprised there hasn’t been more hoo-ha, I guess that’s what happens when there’s few details to see and no opportunity to comment. The renders are all just slices, rather than the whole thing.
I suppose we’ll all get used to it, but Im surprised at the scale of it, and I don’t mean the height. I mean that it’s 4 blocks, really three with one in two parts, that are 14-18 storeys almost straight up from the footpath, right across the site, though with a fairly wide gap on the middle. And on top of that they’re all just grids. So from a distance from many angles it’ll be a huge mass.
There’s a little public park space in the middle on the south side, but it’ll only get direct sunlight between 12-1. There’s also a walkway between the towers across the site lined with shops, and 4.5m setbacks on each street to be planted with trees, and 10% affordable housing (this being Kew the rents will still be high). And of course lots of flats.
So given all those benefits, it gets a permit, including a couple of floors over the 16 storey height limit. I’m not fussed about the height, but I am concerned about the bulk. I’d have much preferred a couple of taller towers with space between, low podiums, and a north facing park. The new height limits and zoning allow much taller than before, but don’t say much about density, and this firms the vague fears I had – that developers will squeeze in as much to the max height as possible, and that theyll mainly happen in the wealthier suburbs, where profits are higher.
Pic 1 is looking down Princess Street, 2 is down the side street, 3, 4,5 across the driveway along the south side, the others are all close ups.
Storey of Melbourne 