A Bendigo developer plans to build a $1.3 million, four-storey development in downtown Bendigo. 

The developer’s consultant, Centrum Town Planning owner Raph Krelle, said the Mitchell Street proposal would be a “landmark”.

“We think it’s going to be a landmark in the sense that it does everything council is trying to achieve in the CBD in respect to vertical, mixed use,” Mr Krelle said.  

“That building type is starting to emerge – but this will be one of the first of its kind.”

The proposal would include retail, office space, an apartment and a six-car “stacker” which would be among the first of this form of parking technology in Bendigo. 

The only current tenant of the existing single-storey building at 103 Mitchell Street – a hairdresser – would occupy one of two tenancies on the ground floor of the new development. 

The first floor would be devoted to office space. The second flood would be a four-bedroom apartment, while the third floor would be used as storage and deck space for that apartment. 

Mr Krelle said the residential component of the development would help enliven downtown Bendigo. 

“The CBD has its challenges in terms of retailing and attractions,” he said.

“Quite simply, it needs more people living in it to make it healthy and vibrant in the future.”

The application is currently awaiting approval from the City of Greater Bendigo, but the developer hopes to start construction early next year. 

He said construction could take up to 10 months, but the majority of the build would occur off-site to minimise disruption to the tenant and neighbouring businesses. 

Mr Krelle said the development would be a sign of things to come. 

“This is a start but, undoubtedly, there is going to be more of this...and the CBD needs this type of development,” he said.

“Council has set vision, the vision is there to encourage it – now it is all about the market and people accepting this kind of development and the role it will play in the future.”