Council rejects application for Hartcourt building in Parkville

Parkville residents are rejoicing after the City of Melbourne refused a permit application for a controversial three-storey medical clinic, which would have seen the intra-war red brick Hartcourt building at the corner of Royal Parade and Morrah St demolished.

It comes after more than 50 residents rallied in front of the building in June to oppose the plans by applicant Sinclair Dermatology, with more than 150 locals having put their name to a petition urging the council to reject the proposal.

Despite the building not having any heritage protection, residents argued that the building was in the South Parkville heritage precinct and that the proposal was therefore out of character with the area.

Among other issues raised included height, scale and use, with parking, vehicle access and traffic management in the precinct of primary concern to what’s almost an entirely residential community, with Hartcourt one of just four commercial properties in South Parkville.

And on September 2, the council’s planning department issued the applicant with a notice of refusal to grant a permit based on the proposal’s strategic context, use, heritage and built form, as well as car parking and access.

“The proposed scale and intensity of the use in the proposed location is contrary to its strategic planning context as a stable residential area and therefore fails to achieve the relevant policies of the Melbourne Planning Scheme,” the decision read.

“The intensity of the use and development results in unacceptable traffic impacts from an amenity perspective to the surrounding streets and in particular Jageurs Lane.”

Sinclair Dermatology was contacted for comment. •