The State Commission Assessment Panel will on Wednesday assess plans lodged by the SA Housing Authority (SAHA) to build a 20.5-metre-tall apartment block at 299-309 Pirie Street.

The public housing development will feature 50 studio apartments – including five specialist disability dwellings – and an office building on the ground floor for SAHA staff.

The proposed development. Image: Woods Bagot

The development site is located near the corner of Hutt and Pirie Street and adjacent to a 16-storey luxury apartment building recently developed by Wellstone Property.

The government’s landholding is only a 1028 square metre portion of 299-309 Pirie Street, which is located to the south near Tucker Street. The vacant allotment to the north has previously been slated for a private eight-storey development.

A map of the proposed development area. Photo: SA Housing Authority

The subject land (facing east). Photo: Thomas Kelsall/InDaily

The 20.55-metre-tall SAHA development is also well below the 53-metre zoning for the area.

The authority said the proposed built form is “responsive to its surrounds”.

“Whilst developments of greater scales are permissible on the site, the proposed development achieves the desired density of public housing,” SAHA said in its planning report.

The proposed development. Image: Woods Bagot

The choice of studio apartments, which will each be between 35 and 41 square metres in size, “responds to public housing needs”, the SAHA said.

“This design allows future tenants to choose how they best occupy the space while ensuring they are not overburdened by a larger space,” they said.

“Notably, the design rationalises structural walls which supports future adaptability.”

The floor plan for levels 1-5 of the proposed apartment block. Image: SA Housing Authority/Woods Bagot

Only two car parks are proposed as part of the development, with the zoning not prescribing a minimum number of car parks.

The car parks will be reserved for SAHA staff, who will be there to provide support for the building’s residents.

A report provided by traffic consultants CIRQA found that car traffic volumes created by the development would be “extremely low” – perhaps two peak hour movements a day – due to the site’s accessibility by walking, cycling and public transport.

It noted that high-frequency bus services operate nearby on Grenfell Street as well as the free city connector bus on Hutt Street.

A view of the development site from Pirie Street. Photo: Thomas Kelsall/InDaily

Government planning officer Mollie O’Connor has recommended the SCAP grant the development planning consent.

The state government wants to complete construction on more than 1000 new public homes across South Australia by 2026.

The Malinauskas Government announced over the weekend that the SAHA will on July 1 revert to its old name, the SA Housing Trust.