Frequently Asked Questions
2025
Project update
In May 2021, planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of the Piedimonte’s Supermarket site and five shops along Scotchmer Street for the purposes of a part-7 and part-5 storey mixed use development.
The planning permission remains valid and the Piedimonte’s family intends to act on the permit and proceed with the redevelopment of the site following the laneway discontinuance.
The Piedimonte family has lodged a request to City of Yarra to discontinue part of the laneway under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1989, in accordance with the permit.
The proponent team has prepared a series of question and answers to inform the community of key considerations, and these are set out below. The family welcomes further questions and queries, feel free to get in touch! Please contact sarah@capire.com.au.
What is proposed for the configuration of the laneway?
The proposal involves diverting part of the existing laneway between 115 Scotchmer Street and the rest of the Piedimonte’s Supermarket building. The new laneway will run behind 102–114 Scotchmer Street and connect to Egremont Street.
Is the laneway being closed or blocked?
No. The laneway is being reconfigured to / from Egremont Street instead of extending to Scotchmer Street as it currently exists. The laneway will remain as an open and trafficable laneway. While the northern part of the laneway will be discontinued, the laneway will remain open at both ends (to Tranmere Street and Egremont Street), with functional access to the rears of all properties fronting St Georges Road and Egremont Street.
The existing laneway will not be closed until the new laneway is completed.
Why is the laneway being diverted?
The diversion is part of the approved redevelopment of Piedimonte’s Supermarket (Planning Permit PLN17/0618). It delivers public benefits by improving access, safety, and amenity in the area.
What are the public benefits?
Several public benefits will result from the proposal, including:
improved public safety where the laneway will be separated from pedestrian and vehicular traffic (both cars and delivery vehicles)
improved public safety and passive surveillance through the expansion of the existing ‘east-west’ laneway to the rear of 110 – 114 Scotchmer Street
the creation of unimpeded access along the laneway, noting that delivery vehicles currently and lawfully stop within the laneway for delivery purposes, which blocks the lane from time to time
acoustic improvements for the surrounding area whereby all loading, unloading and deliveries will be concealed within the approved development, thus minimising noise impacts to surrounding residential properties
improved public / laneway spaces (refer to Artists Impression below).
Is there a design for the proposed laneway?
Yes. The design is part of the Endorsed Planning Permit. The image below is an Artist’s Impression of the new laneway.
Artist’s impression of the new laneway
What are the land areas associated with the proposal?
As part of the proposal, the part of the lane to be discontinued equates to 75m2 of land which will be purchased from Council. The new lane area to be gifted to Council is 151.5m2 in area, which will total in 198.2m2 of public land for Council and the community.
Has the traffic proposal been assessed by a traffic engineer?
Yes. The laneway design has been assessed independently by Traffix Group and Council’s Traffic Engineers to ensure the design is functional from a traffic engineering perspective. The design ensures that vehicles can turn at the L-bend in the new laneway, and it includes measures such as mirrors for navigation and bollards to protect adjoining fences.
Have all other engineering and servicing considerations been addressed?
Yes. As part of the application, the applicant has confirmed that all servicing within the laneway will be to Council’s and the relevant authorities’ requirements.
Will vehicles still be able to use the laneway in both directions?
Yes. Vehicles will still be able to travel in both directions.
Will the Piedimonte Family proceed with the overall redevelopment if the laneway is not discontinued?
No. The changes to the laneway configuration have become an integral part of the development and the family has made the assessment that without the approval of discontinuance and sale, they will not proceed. They will instead have no alternative but to close the iconic Piedimonte’s Supermarket and put the entire property, and the approved development, up for sale for a new owner to deliver.
If the redevelopment goes ahead, will the land be sold to a developer?
If Council grants permission for the laneway diversion, the Piedimonte family will proceed with the development themselves, in accordance with the Endorsed Planning Permit.
If part of the lane is being discontinued, will that result in a precedent for future laneway closures within the City of Yarra?
No. Any other laneway discontinuance application would need to be assessed by Council on its merits.
Does the laneway proposal block daylight into the lane and adjoining backyards?
No. Shadow diagrams submitted with the application show there are no unreasonable impacts on daylight.
Does the laneway proposal lack a clear line of sight, hide anti-social behaviour and reduce residents’ safety?
No. The laneway proposal improves passive surveillance, noting:
In the location of the proposed ‘east-west’ laneway that will extend to Egremont Street there is an existing dead-end laneway that extends in an ‘east-west’ direction off the main laneway. The existing laneway is currently unsafe and does not provide a clear line of sight. The new laneway will be ‘opened’ to Egremont Street, thus improving passive surveillance and safety within the laneway environs.
A convex mirror will be installed at the L-junction to enable views ‘around the corner’ (nothing that no mirrors exist at the current L-junction of the existing laneways).
The laneway concept design includes low level baffled lighting to ensure the laneway is lit at night.
Passive surveillance will also be improved as part of the overall redevelopment, noting the additional visitors and residents that will be in the local area as part of the redevelopment proposal.
Will there be any changes to lighting in the new laneway?
Design elements of the laneway, such as lighting, have been developed in conjunction with the Council and will be constructed to meet Council standards.
What is the timeline for the development, and how will it impact Egremont Street residents during construction?
The construction timeline will be managed by the appointed builder, who will communicate directly with Egremont Street residents throughout the build. At this stage, no rear access points to the development from Egremont Street have been proposed or confirmed.
Is a one-way laneway being considered?
The laneway is currently designed for two-way vehicle access but we are open to working with Council and engineers to explore a one-way system if this is preferred by Council.
Will Piedimonte’s be reducing its truck size? Or will it continue to use articulated vehicles (semi-trailer trucks) for delivery to the supermarket?
Piedimonte’s is planning to purchase smaller trucks that can fit in the basement loading area. This will decrease the number of large, articulated trucks unloading in the street-level loading bays. Piedimonte’s will also be replacing 20m-long semi-trailer trucks with smaller, 14.5m semi-trailer trucks. These trucks will access the loading bay on Scotchmer Street using a reversing manoeuvre..
How long is the expected realignment of services in the laneway expected to take?
This will depend on the construction methodology used and will not be known until a builder is appointed.
All new diversions of Authority services, Gas, Sewer and Water, will be completed and signed off by the Authorities, before services in the old laneway will be disconnected.
Why does Piedimonte need access to the laneway?
Under the current configuration, Piedimonte’s uses the laneway for the loading and unloading of goods to the supermarket, which creates a conflict point with the public’s shared use of the laneway. The proposed design will redirect the laneway so that Piedimonte’s no longer shares the public area or impacts on pedestrian and vehicular use, and instead uses a closed-in, private loading area.
Under the proposed re-design, Piedimonte’s only access to the public laneway will be via an emergency exit door.
Why is the realigned section of the laneway six metres?
Council requires that the realigned section of the laneway is a minimum of six metres wide, due to its 90-degree bend. This ensures that common vehicles using the laneway have plenty of room to turn. The laneway design complies with the Australian Standards (AS2890.1).
How is the basement accessed for loading and unloading?
The driveway to the basement-level back of house facilities is via Scotchmer Street. The basement loading areas will allow for vehicles to enter and exit in a forward direction which is a much safer arrangement.
A separate loading area, with a roller door for acoustic protection, is also accessible via Scotchmer Street.
Will traffic management be required in the new laneway?
The new laneway will remain public land and will no longer be used for commercial purposes by Piedimonte’s. As such, traffic management of the laneway will not be required unless it is for Council or resident purposes.
Will the laneway remain as a public asset? Who will be responsible for maintaining the laneway?
The laneway, and new extension, will continue to be public land owned by the Council. As such, maintenance will be the responsibility of Council.
Where will residents of the apartments above the supermarket access the building?
For pedestrian access to the apartments, there will be three entry-points , all on Scotchmer Street. There will also be a further entry-point via the basement for parking.
What acoustic impacts will the loading dock area have?
The new loading dock and its operations will be fully enclosed within the building. This contains all the noise within the building, thus reducing the noise impact to surrounding residences. As a result, the new loading dock proposal is an improvement on the existing loading dock with respect to noise emission.
The loading area will be screened by an acoustic wall designed by acoustic experts. Past experience developing acoustic barriers specifically for loading areas will inform the proposed design.
How do I make a submission to Council regarding this project?
To make a formal submission to Council, including if you support the discontinuance, go to the Yarra City Council website.