Skyscraper approved for prominent Docklands site

The Lorimer Street tower will contain 202 car parks.

EXCLUSIVE

Planning minister Sonya Kilkenny has approved a 31 storey, 103 metre Build to Rent tower beside the Bolte Bridge, on Lorimer Street.

The Docklands site abuts Mirvac’s Yarra’s Edge, the Bolte Bridge and Fishermans Bend.

To be delivered by Samma Property Group, the skyscraper will contain 402 units – the bulk (233) with one bedroom.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis to resemble the bridge of a ship, it will also incorporate Docklands’ historic Shed 21, which will be converted into a public space.

The owners paid Development Victoria a speculated $20 million for the 4509 square metre site making way for the complex in late 2021; at the time it was earmarked for a 90m structure with 300 apartments.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Lukas Byrns, Marcus Neill and Luke Etherington were the agents.

Skyscraper beside Bolte

The state government approval for 194-206 Lorimer St comes three months since the City of Melbourne gave the $200m tower the green light.

Six per cent of dwellings will be allocated for affordable housing (story continues below).

Samma’s proposed Haig Street tower.

Fifteen units will contain three bedrooms.

The design includes 115 sqm of food and beverage area too.

Incorporating Shed 21 and a podium, there will also be c3000 sqm of community space.

Mirvac was permitted to develop a 45 level apartment building – Docklands’ tallest – last year.

“Careful consideration has been given to the design of the podium in respect to the existing heritage fabric at the river’s edge, while the integration of the podium and tower forms provides a more dynamic experience of the building when viewed from the surrounding neighbourhood,” Fender Katsalidis’ James Pearce said.

“The result is the creation of a new urban market that will join a series of architectural moments dispersed along the Citylink Freeway [which includes the Bolte Bridge], he added.

The parcel is at the western edge of Docklands, abutting Mirvac’s Yarra’s Edge, which contains eight skyscrapers and where a 45 storey traditional apartment building – Docklands’ tallest – was approved last year.

Samma is also behind a BTR project at nearby 65 Haig St, South Melbourne – beside the West Gate Freeway.

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Marc Pallisco

A former property analyst and print journalist, Marc is the publisher of realestatesource.com.au.