The Humffray Street property in Ballarat is located in a commercial zone that allows for both residential and commercial uses, including offices. The area is known for its historic architectural charm, with surrounding buildings dating back to the 1850s. The Ballarat Heritage Watch group is calling for height limits in the central business district to be restricted to four storeys to preserve the historic urban landscape. Development company Hygge Property is behind the Humffray Street project, which will feature 74 apartments and retain a 17-metre brick chimney from a previous timber mill.
Hygge Property director Joseph van Dyk emphasized the project’s low impact on the skyline due to the site’s topography, making it less visible from nearby streets. The location’s proximity to shops and restaurants will decrease reliance on cars for residents. With a growing population in the Ballarat area, there is demand for between 80 and 120 new apartments annually. Hygge Property’s focus on environmental sustainability and community building aims to provide better housing options in regional Victoria where such options might not otherwise exist.
The development at Humffray Street faced opposition, which led to a review of the planning application in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. However, Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny intervened and referred the proposal to the Priority Projects Standing Advisory Committee for advice. The committee ultimately recommended that the project move forward, noting that some view lines would be impacted but were not protected by the planning scheme. The area where the property is located is prone to flooding, and design changes for vehicle access were recommended by the committee.
Ballarat Council confirmed that the Humffray Street development would be the tallest in the regional city by one level if it proceeded. The council has approved other developments of five storeys or more that have yet to be built. Urban design frameworks and structure plans are being developed by the council to consider state government policy on development intensity in activity centers while preserving heritage in Ballarat. Mandatory and discretionary height limits in appropriate locations will be considered as part of these plans.
State government intervention ensures that development projects, such as the one at Humffray Street, can proceed to increase housing supply in regional areas like Ballarat. Melbourne University urban planning professor Alan March noted that mandatory height limits are not common in most areas of Victoria, but specific locations may have them in place to protect views, heritage, and streetscapes. The success of an eight-level development in Ballarat may pave the way for similar projects in the future, signaling the viability of tall buildings in the area.
