A $9.5 million seven-storey apartment building in Nedlands has been approved to be built near a major health precinct.
A $9.5 million seven-storey apartment building in Nedlands has been approved to be built near a major health precinct.
The Metro Inner-North Joint Development Assessment Panel overturned the City of Nedlands council's recommendation to refuse G Living's proposal on the corner of Leura and Karella streets.
The application was initially recommended to be approved by the city's planning staff but the council voted to recommend refusal at its special council meeting last month.
JDAP members, except the two city councillors on the panel, voted for the original recommendation and approved the apartment building after a two-hour meeting this morning.
The application, with designs by DKO Architecture, consists of 11 apartments, 12 holiday accommodations or short-stay dwellings, three offices and a cafe.
Modifications have been made to the on-site car parking and landscaping after the original application was deferred in February.
The amended plans lodged in April showed a reduction of one of the two top floor units, increased boundary setbacks, an additional 11 car parking bays and increased landscaping.
The proposed apartment building will be several streets away from a major health precinct, which includes Hollywood Private Hospital, Perth Children's Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
According to the city's responsible authority report, the development aims to similar to a “medi-hotel” with short stay units available for people undertaking rehabilitation in nearby health services.
JDAP deputy presiding member Lee O'Donohue said a lot of improvements have been made and that it was a "worthwhile" development.
"I think the unity benefits of this development are very apparent and are much needed, particularly in a location close to a major medical centre," she said.
JDAP presiding member Francesca Lefante was also supportive with the mix of residential at the site, particularly with the development being close to the health precinct.
The council refused to support the proposal despite the amendments, citing the bulk and scale of the proposed development being inconsistent with the existing context and intended future character of the local area.
"The height and plot ratio of the proposal would alter future built form and character beyond that contemplated by the current density coding, thereby setting the built form of future development prior to implementation of a strategy or desired controls," the council resolution said.
"The development provides insufficient car parking to cater for the expected use of the development and will negatively impact the amenity of the locality through an overreliance on street parking."
Another Nedlands development opposed by the council, a $11 million apartment building on Thomas Street, was also approved by the JDAP members in April.
