Hansen’s urban planning team were approached in 2018 to work with the project architect and client in obtaining a planning permit for a landmark commercial project in Clarendon Street South Melbourne. The project involved a corner site comprised of a two-storey Victorian-era shopfront and a former bank building with heritage significance.

The client’s vision was to create a female-led, high-qualitybuilt form outcome that recognised the heritage values of the site whilst incorporating a carefully curated and sculptural office building as a backdrop that celebrated the heritage buildings and values of Clarendon Street, showcased women in the construction and property industry and provide much-needed investment to reactivate the southern end of Clarendon Street.

A number of female planners at Hansen worked on the project, providing planning input through the design phase, in preparing and lodging the planning application and management through the statutory planning process which saw a planning permit originally issued in 2019 and successfully amended in 2021.

Whilst the original and amended applications saw multiple objections lodged, the client’s focus on community consultation and close collaboration between the client, architect, and planner, saw permits issued each time without the involvement of VCAT.

This project provided an important opportunity to be involved in a landmark project that sought to showcase women’s contribution to the development industry. It involved a predominately female consultant project team led by a female client wishing to create a landmark and legacy project in the neighbourhood where she was raised.

The close collaboration between the client, project architect and planner is illustrative of the way we work at Hansen. This project illustrates the importance we place on good communication and working closely with our clients to achieve the desired outcome in a collaborative and cooperative way.

Construction was completed in late 2024.