INDUSTRIAL LAND USE STRATEGY - City of Darebin

EXECUTIVE SUMMARYINTRODUCTIONThe Junction Integrated DevelopmentPlan is to provide a framework for thereview of the existing planning zonesapplying to the land under the DarebinPlanning Scheme, with particularemphasis on the land zoned forindustrial use and having regard toseveral large redundant sites centralto the precinct.The focus of the study area is theindustrial zoned land in the areaknown as the Preston Junction, beingthe convergence of High Street andPlenty Road, Preston. Morespecifically, the area is defined asfollows:To the north: Bell Street(consideration has been given to theBusiness 2 and Residential 1 Zoneland which front the south side of BellStreet).To the west: The Epping RailwayLine.To the south: Dundas Street.To the east: Industrial zonedproperties between Plenty Road andHotham Street, otherwise propertiesfronting the east side of Plenty Road.9 Current Land UseTraditionally, the study area hascomprised a predominantly industrialprecinct, centred around the historicland use industries of leathertanneries, piggeries and associatedindustries including footwear, clothingand bacon curing.Many of these uses are nowredundant or obsolete in the areagiven the availability of moreappropriately located and servicedindustrial land, in particular, furthernorth in the suburbs of Reservoir andThomastown.The study area lies at a transitionpoint part way along one ofMelbourne’s longest, traditional stripcentres.URBAN DESIGNThe cohesion of High Street thatexists to the south of Dundas Street islacking in the study area along bothHigh Street and Plenty Road. Manyproperties along these frontages areof a tired appearance or poorpresentation from an urban designperspective. Many of the buildingsare heading or have reached the endof their economic and / or useful life.The mixed use and industrial parts ofthe study area lack a distinctiveidentity and character in both thepublic and private realm. While theresidential parts of the study area arequite discrete there is poor visualcontrast between them and nonresidentialparts, with which theycompete in terms of amenity andvisual quality.The Junction Integrated Development Plan - Executive Summary