Scentre, Dexus Win Perth Apartment Scheme Approval

Two major players in development have won approval for a WA apartment project despite concerns around building heights, traffic impacts and safety. Scentre Group and Dexus (through DWPL Nominees Pty Ltd) partnered on the project planned for a 2564sq m site at 17-19 Almondbury Road and 3 Bragor Place in Perth’s Ardross. The Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel this week approved the application. Presiding member Eugene Koltasz, deputy presiding member Francesca Lefante and Dale Page voted for approval with a condition that Scentre build a footpath for public use or contribute to the cost of doing so to the City of Melville Council. City of Melville councillors Daniel Lim and Glynis Barber, who were also part of the Development Assessment Panel, voted against the amended motion to approve the proposal. MJA Architects designed the plans for the seven-storey project that comprises 57 apartments—eight of one bedroom, 35 of two, and 14 three-bedroom units. Three two-storey townhouses are also part of the plan. Scentre Group development executive in WA Darren Evans told the meeting the scheme would be a pilot project for the group ’ s residential densification strategy, under which it would develop more housing, particularly around retail centres that Scentre owned, such as Garden City at Booragoon. The City of Melville Council had recommended the application be refused on the grounds of it not abiding by building height and setback requirements and not being compliant with the Melville City Centre Structure Plan created in 2014. Other objections included concerns about traffic safety and impact on existing footpaths driving students to walk en masse in the middle of the roads and concerns that the project would create more pressure and danger to the students. “These are children we are talking about,” Lim said in his argument for refusing the proposal. “We need to design for the safety of children rather than treating them like adults.” An alternative for access through 15 Almondbury Road was raised but Scentre said it had no plans to buy 15 Almondbury Road. It did own 11 and 13 Almondbury Road and intended to develop another project on the lots, Scentre said. Design and adequate natural light for some of the apartments was also in question with the design including a five-storey parapet wall and one light well but no windows on the west side of the building. ▲ A rendering of the three two-storey townhouses that Scentre also plans to build on the site next to its seven-storey apartment block. Perth-based developer Shahyar Gorjy, who has developed a four-storey project nearby, objected to the plans. He said that although his project was compliant and no discretion had been granted, discretion was likely to be applied to Scentre’s project even though it was non-compliant under the Structure Plan and regulations. Urbis planner Kris Nolan told the meeting that the Melville City Centre Structure Plan was an outdated document and therefore could be treated as a due regard document. The council confirmed that the structure plan was coming up for review. “Structure plans are created through public consultations and careful strategic vision,” Lim said. “They’re not to me suggestions or guidelines to be disregarded. “When you do so, it undermines the very inclusion that the city is striving to achieve.” Scentre was asked why the developer had applied for an extension on an application for the Garden City mall. It said construction costs and associated issues had prompted the request. Scentre said it planned to start work on the site in 2026. The project has an estimated cost of $38.5 million, according to the panel’s agenda.

Scentre, Dexus Win Perth Apartment Scheme Approval

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