56Higher floor space ratios for Opportunity Sites and certain colonnades

56 Higher floor space ratios for Opportunity Sites and certain colonnades

56 Higher floor space ratios for Opportunity Sites and certain colonnades

(1) Consent may be granted to development resulting in additions to the street frontage of existing buildings on an Opportunity Site which would result in the creation of floor space additional to that allowed by the maximum floor space ratio set by clause 54 if the additional floor space would, in the opinion of the consent authority, improve the public amenity.

(2) Any amount of additional floor space allowed must be determined having regard to the extent to which the development proposed is, in the opinion of the consent authority, consistent with the provision of—

(a) improved pedestrian and disabled access between the street and the existing buildings, and

(b) increased opportunities for active pedestrian use and enjoyment of the space between the street and the existing buildings, and

(c) improved amenity, including personal security, traffic safety and weather protection, and

(d) improved scale relationship between the buildings and pedestrians using the buildings and places in the vicinity, and

(e) increased continuity and visual consistency of the street wall, and

(f) where driveways or vehicle ramps obstruct the pedestrian way, the relocation of the driveways and ramps so as to minimise their impact on the public domain and pedestrian way, and

(g) where colonnades exist at ground and lower levels, the infilling of these colonnades, to form a part of a consistent street wall.

(3) A consent referred to in subclause (1) may be granted only if the consent authority is satisfied that—

(a) an amount of heritage floor space equal to half the amount of the additional floor space permitted will be allocated to the Opportunity Site, and

(b) the proposed development is not an extensive redevelopment of the Opportunity Site, and

(c) the proposed development exhibits design excellence.