City of Subiaco planning officers have recommended the state’s new Development Assessment Unit not support the application for the $21 million development.
City of Subiaco planning officers have raised concerns about a $21 million proposal lodged with the state’s Development Assessment Unit, urging the council not to support it as it exceeds local height restrictions and could impact the adjacent heritage area.
The proposal involves the construction of a six-storey, 532 square-metre development across four lots of Rokeby Road, featuring 37 multiple dwellings and two commercial tenancies designed by MJA Studio architects.
The planning application was filed by urban planning consultancy Planning Solutions on behalf of real estate developers Windsor Knight and Celsius Developments, which are understood to have signed a contractual agreement with landowner Breemor to purchase the site upon approval.
The proposal reached the City of Subiaco after the application was filed with the state government’s State Development Assessment Unit (SDAU), a body established to streamline the planning approvals process and expedite developments likely to assist with the state’s economic recovery in the wake of COVID-19.
The proponent claims the initial investment of $21 million is likely to generate a further $26.5 million indirect construction output elsewhere in the economy, with 34 direct and 53 indirect full-time jobs during construction and 23 once operational.
According to the supporting planning documents, the proponent hopes to complete the development within four years of receiving project approval.
But the City of Subiaco’s planning officers have raised concerns about the scale of the development and the way in which it conflicts with the city’s town planning framework and a draft plan for the Rokeby Road South precinct, which stipulates that the maximum height on the site should be four storeys.
Officers warned that the timing of the application preempted the finalisation of the draft plan and could set an undesirable precedent for the future redevelopment of Rokeby Road South, urging the SDAU to request and consider amended plans prior to making a determination.
But while the state planning body must have due regard for the local government’s planning framework, it has the authority to vary provisions and provide approval.
Officers also appeared to question whether the development should be considered by the assessment body at all, stating that while general positive economic impacts of the proposal were noted, it was not of a significant scale to have regional economic impacts which outweigh the need to carefully design the development.
“It is reasonable to consider that this development will have likely occurred regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, given the recent history of the site,” officers said.
The City of Subiaco council is expected to consider the recommendation not to support the proposal and make a formal decision during its meeting this evening.