Wollongong City Council has approved a revised development plan for a 19-storey tower at 2-8 Belmore Street, replacing a previously approved 15-storey building. The new design increases apartment numbers from 62 to 82, including 20 affordable housing units, and adds 35 hotel rooms.
The developer is leveraging two government incentives: a state-level height bonus for affordable housing and a local council bonus for tourist accommodation. The building's height will rise from the zoning maximum of 48 metres to 62.4 metres, with a minor 1.053-metre lift overrun described as visually recessive.
The project addresses Wollongong's shortage of tourist accommodation, as identified in the council's Tourism Accommodation Discussion paper. The statement of environmental effects notes that the hotel suites will be in a highly accessible city centre location.
Basement parking has been removed, with 103 off-street spaces distributed across ground and four above-ground levels. A traffic study estimates 45 vehicle trips per hour during weekday peaks, which is not expected to cause unacceptable traffic impacts.
The development application is on public exhibition until May 18.
