Local Developer’s West Perth Mixed-Use Wins Approval

The City of Vincent’s Joint Development Assessment Panel has approved Western Australian developer Saracen Properties’ $25.5-million West Perth commercial project.

The panel met on November 1 with planning officers recommending that the panel approve the plans.

The plans for the 10,000sq m site at 533-545 Newcastle Street, 1-7 Old Aberdeen Place and 6-15 Cleaver Street in West Perth were designed by Meyer Shircore Architects. 

The end value for the development is estimated at $70 million, according to Saracen Properties. 

The initial version of the plans included a third storey that was removed after submissions from the community. 

The two-storey project will have two undercroft sections, a ground floor and a first floor. 

The first undercroft section will have seven tenancies with options for shops, cafes, fast-food outlets, liquor stores, small bars and others. 

It will also have a studio or workshop, a showroom and an event space with lobby and lift.

There will be 59 carparking spaces and a service entrance accessible from Old Aberdeen Place, including one ACROD parking space.  

The second undercroft section will front Cleaver Street and provide the entrance for the proposed Bunnings plus escalator access to the ground floor. 

It will have 176 carparking spaces, including four ACROD parking spaces and four trailer spaces. 

▲ A previous version of the project had a third floor that was removed after community submissions.

The ground floor will have the hardware store with space for a warehouse, timber trade sales, outdoor nursery and bagged goods area plus a service exit to Newcastle Street.

There will also be two additional access and exit points on Newcastle Street to the timber trade sales area.

The first floor will have a childcare centre for 140 children and 18 staff, and a gallery space for an exhibition centre. 

The childcare centre will have an outdoor play area on the first floor and five dedicated pick-up and drop-off spaces in the first undercroft section. 

The site is in the Pickle District, the location for community events such as After Dark in 2021 and 2022. 

A number of submissions were made with concerns about traffic, parking, congestion and the initial proposed height of the building.

Luke Saraceni formed Saracen Properties in 1993. Its other projects include the Gnarabup hotel project on the Leeuwin-Naturalist Ridge near Margaret River in WA’s south-west. 

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority is assessing the Gnarabup Hotel project with a report to be provided to the state minister for environment.