A controversial plan for an Apple Store, designed by Foster + Partners in Melbourne's Federation Square, has been abandoned after it was blocked by Australian heritage authorities.
Heritage Victoria ruled against plans put forward by Federation Square management to knock down the Yarra Building, one of the existing structures on the publicly owned plaza, to make way for a AUS$50 million (£27 million) store for the tech giant.
"If the application were approved, and the Yarra Building demolished and replaced with the proposed building, it would result in an unacceptable and irreversible detrimental impact on the cultural heritage significance of Federation Square," said Steven Avery, executive director of Heritage Victoria.
A spokesperson for Apple told the Sydney Morning Herald that the company was "disappointed" by the ruling. Apple planned to replace the Yarra Building with an Apple Store
Foster + Partners had submitted a re-design of its concept for the flagship Apple Store in 2018, after thousands of people signed a petition against what campaigners dubbed the Pizza Hut Pagoda. However, its more streamlined design also failed to win over opponents.
Plan did not respect square's "architectural significance" 
The news was welcomed by campaigners who have opposed the development of the store, which was first approved in 2017.
"This is such wonderful news for Fed Square and a win for the community," said Tania Davidge, presiden...