Latest news with #WAPlanningCommission
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Plans for 26sq m Perth micro apartments get green light
Plans have been approved for micro apartments in Perth, offering living spaces the size of two carpark spaces. The $22m project in Perth's inner suburbs includes apartments that are mostly 26sq m. 'Perth being turned into slum ghettos like London, where does this madness stop?' one online commenter opined. The apartments are among the smallest in Australia, measuring a square metre or two under the standard 'micro apartment' benchmark. The new 26sq m Perth apartments dwarf the 17sq m Bondi abode that sold for $511,000 in 2023. The newly approved Perth apartments are earmarked for an area about 1km north of the central business district, and just one block from Perth's major outdoor concert venue and rectangular sporting stadium. The building is set to house 88 self-contained flats – 64 of which are deemed micro – and the rest are 41sq m lofts. The building would also have four rooms specifically for guests of residents. All apartments will be fully furnished with a balcony, bed, kitchenette, bathroom, lounge and dining space. There is a proposed communal roof terrace, office space, gym and laundry. The WA Planning Commission used its discretion to overrule density rules for the area. The apartments are not for individual sale but would be leased by a dedicated property manager, with leases running between three months and three years. The developers say FIFO workers, students and young professionals without cars are their target market – for a building of 88 apartments, there are 25 car spaces. In its decision, released on Wednesday, the commission says objectors to the proposal took umbrage with the proposed building's height and the potential for sun to be blocked. 'Submissions in support were due to the underdeveloped nature of the area, design quality of the building and locational context of the site within close proximity to Perth CBD,' the commission report said. There are many established micro apartment complexes across Australia, and this latest project is not the first in Perth. But Perth is in the grips of a massive spike in property prices, on the same galactic trajectory as Adelaide and Brisbane. In 2024, the price of one-bedroom apartments in Perth rose 31 per cent – the largest national price rise in the category by a stretch.
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Luxury western suburbs retreat hits major setback
Plans for a luxury day spa and wellness retreat on the Dalkeith riverfront have stalled, with developers asking for four more years just to make a start on the ambitious $25 million Tawarri Hot Springs project. It took a long and sometimes bitter battle with the City of Nedlands and State Government intervention to get the hot springs facility approved in 2023, but a two-year deadline to begin construction expires next week without substantial work commencing. The developers blamed soaring construction costs for the delay and the reason for requesting more time to start. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'Labour shortages (and) supply chain issues have increased development cost and undermined the delivery of the Tawarri Hot Springs,' read a letter from Urbis planning consultant Tim Dawkins. 'Price increases have affected nearly every aspect of the construction.' Mr Dawkins said the cost to build the facility in 2025 had nearly doubled to $45 million from the $25m price tag estimated two years ago. Claremont Hotel proprietor and FJM Property principal Barry Jones is spearheading the wellness retreat dream, which former premier Mark McGowan called a 'strategic tourism attraction' for WA when he endorsed the idea in 2023. The Tawarri dream attracted significant backlash from Dalkeith and Nedlands locals, including another former Premier Richard Court, throughout the approval process. Nedlands Mayor Fiona Argyle told the WA Planning Commission that building it 'robs all West Australians of a magnificent foreshore.' An artist's impressions of the proposed Tawarri Hot Springs wellness centre and spa. Credit: Plus Architecture The luxury spa development would be built on a 5508sqm lot along the Esplanade in place of the Tawarri Function Centre, which has been closed for seven years. Plans show a range of indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, treatment rooms, a rooftop terrace and a licensed restaurant and cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Developers forecast that it would attract 142,000 patrons a year, including 14 per cent from overseas. Public consultation on the request for a time extension closed on Wednesday ahead of the WA Planning Commission decision.
Perth Now
15-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Booragoon shopping centre's reno delayed for years
The WA Planning Commission has approved Scentre Group's request for a four-year extension on Westfield Booragoon shopping centre's mammoth renovation. The $792 million plan to redevelop the shopping centre was approved in 2023 on the condition that substantial commencement be made by February 2025. On Thursday, the substantial commencement deadline was officially extended to February 2029. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Scentre Group claimed the extension was needed due to labour shortages and supply chain issues. 'Builders and key trades continue to confront labour shortages and supply chain issues, which are generating significant cost and delivery uncertainty,' the application prepared by consultant planner Urbis states. 'Due to these extenuating circumstances, the proponent is unable to achieve substantial commencement within the currently specified period.' Speaking on behalf of the developer, Farida Farrag said the four-year extension is a 'realistic estimate' in today's climate. We are excited about our vision for Westfield Booragoon and our plans to create a contemporary retail, dining and entertainment destination for the community. 'Scentre Group have demonstrated a strong commitment to proceed with the development, but for the reasons outlined in our application substantial commencement hasn't been achieved within the two year approval period,' she said. 'The proposal can achieve substantial commencement within the requested timeframe extension to February 2029. 'The requested extension will enable Scentre Group to continue collaborating with the City of Melville, creating a true town centre as envisioned by the Melville City Centre Structure Plan. 'We're seeking no other variations to the balance of approval conditions, approved uses or the approved design which have been proposed within the initial application.' A Scentre Group spokesperson told PerthNow they still intended to turn Westfield Booragoon into a destination shopping centre akin to Karrinyup Shopping Centre and Westfield Carousel. 'We have lodged a request to extend the period of substantial commencement to enable further planning. The development opportunity remains part of our investment pipeline,' the spokesperson said. 'We are excited about our vision for Westfield Booragoon and our plans to create a contemporary retail, dining and entertainment destination for the community.' The existing shopping centre was built more than 50 years ago and was last expanded and refurbished in 1999. An additional 72,500 sqm of shopping space is planned, which if completed would boost Westfield Booragoon to 114,620sqm and give it the bragging rights of WA's largest shopping centre. That title currently belongs to Karrinyup, which has 114,000sqm floor space.
West Australian
15-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Westfield Booragoon: WA Planning Commission approves four-year extension on renovation commencement
The WA Planning Commission has approved Scentre Group's request for a four-year extension on Westfield Booragoon shopping centre's mammoth renovation. The $792 million plan to redevelop the shopping centre was approved in 2023 on the condition that substantial commencement be made by February 2025. On Thursday, the substantial commencement deadline was officially extended to February 2029. Scentre Group claimed the extension was needed due to labour shortages and supply chain issues. 'Builders and key trades continue to confront labour shortages and supply chain issues, which are generating significant cost and delivery uncertainty,' the application prepared by consultant planner Urbis states. 'Due to these extenuating circumstances, the proponent is unable to achieve substantial commencement within the currently specified period.' Speaking on behalf of the developer, Farida Farrag said the four-year extension is a 'realistic estimate' in today's climate. 'Scentre Group have demonstrated a strong commitment to proceed with the development, but for the reasons outlined in our application substantial commencement hasn't been achieved within the two year approval period,' she said. 'The proposal can achieve substantial commencement within the requested timeframe extension to February 2029. 'The requested extension will enable Scentre Group to continue collaborating with the City of Melville, creating a true town centre as envisioned by the Melville City Centre Structure Plan. 'We're seeking no other variations to the balance of approval conditions, approved uses or the approved design which have been proposed within the initial application.' A Scentre Group spokesperson told PerthNow they still intended to turn Westfield Booragoon into a destination shopping centre akin to Karrinyup Shopping Centre and Westfield Carousel. 'We have lodged a request to extend the period of substantial commencement to enable further planning. The development opportunity remains part of our investment pipeline,' the spokesperson said. 'We are excited about our vision for Westfield Booragoon and our plans to create a contemporary retail, dining and entertainment destination for the community.' The existing shopping centre was built more than 50 years ago and was last expanded and refurbished in 1999. An additional 72,500 sqm of shopping space is planned, which if completed would boost Westfield Booragoon to 114,620sqm and give it the bragging rights of WA's largest shopping centre. That title currently belongs to Karrinyup, which has 114,000sqm floor space.
West Australian
02-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
City of Wanneroo to formally oppose $35m Woodvale shopping complex proposal
Concerns over traffic congestion and environmental impacts have prompted the City of Wanneroo to oppose a proposed $35m shopping complex in Woodvale. The Woodvale Corner proposed at the corner of Wanneroo Road and Woodvale Drive was released for public comment in March. Plans for the 34,952sqm site include an Aldi supermarket, two drive-through fast-food outlets, a service station, a gym, a childcare centre, a cafe/restaurant, and a self-storage facility. Locals immediately took issue with it, launching a Facebook page called 'Stop Traffic Chaos On Woodvale Drive' which quickly gained more than 500 followers and led to a packed community forum. During question time at last week's council meeting, city director of planning and sustainability Mark Dickson clarified the city's position on the development. 'I would like to make it very clear that the city will be making a submission on this proposal strongly objecting to the development proposed,' he said. 'We don't support an activity centre in this location.' Mr Dickson said the city believed the proposed development, as it stands, would impact the viability of other centres and failed to meet State planning policies. 'There are significant traffic impacts on Woodvale Drive and Wanneroo Road intersection, and the network isn't designed to cater for the quantum of traffic that's already using the road, and this will only exacerbate the traffic issues,' he said. 'The environmental information that's been submitted with the proposal is weak in our view, and needs further information so that we can satisfy ourselves that there won't be any significant environmental concerns.' The site is on the border of the cities of Joondalup and Wanneroo and there has been consultation between them, particularly regarding shared assets such as Woodvale Drive and Yellagonga Regional Park. 'For residents within the City of Joondalup, we have also been liaising with our colleagues, including the director of planning at the City of Joondalup, and we share the same concerns,' Mr Dickson said. 'I also understand that they will be making an objection when the matter is considered by the WA Planning Commission.' City of Joondalup CEO Mark Pearson confirmed to PerthNow the city's intent to make a submission to the WA Planning Commission but with a focus on resolving challenges rather than opposing the development. 'The city's submission will focus on assessing the impact of the development rather than proposing alternative uses for the site,' he said. 'This submission will consider the potential impacts of the Woodvale Corner development on local traffic, the environment, and its alignment with principles of orderly and proper planning.' As the land is zoned for urban development under the city's district planning scheme, a project on the site is inevitable, but Wanneroo mayor Linda Aitken said the city's submission to the WAPC would argue the area is better suited for housing rather than a shopping centre. 'This submission will outline the city's objection to the proposed development and that a low-density residential development would be more appropriate for this location,' she said. 'This would help protect existing vegetation and reduce traffic impacts on nearby roads.' In the development application, the applicants said 'the city's officers have not raised any fundamental concerns with the proposal and the land use more broadly, instead have provided beneficial and constructive advice and feedback along the way'. Mr Dickson said at last week's council meeting the claims made did not fully represent the city's official stance on the proposed development. 'At no point in time, notwithstanding the planning report that accompanied the development proposal, has the City of Wanneroo supported commercial development on this site,' he said. 'The city has raised concerns with regard to the proposed commercial development and has at no point supported commercial development on that site.' The development application prepared by Urbanista Town Planning for SPG Capital Fund 10 Pty Ltd, a private equity firm that purchased most of the land in 2023, expects the proposal to generate 7650 vehicle trips per day, increasing traffic on Woodvale Drive to 13,380 vehicle trips daily. 'If the proposed commercial development goes ahead in its current form, significant upgrades to Woodvale Drive would be needed to ensure the road remains safe and functional,' Ms Aitken said. According to the development application, Main Roads WA has given approval for the modification of the Wanneroo Road and Woodvale Drive intersection, following detailed discussions. Given that it is classed as a significant development, the fate of the $35 million proposal will be decided by the State Development Assessment Unit later this year.
