Freo townhouses refused again

A planning pathway has been criticised after a $21.5 million townhouse development proposal was unanimously knocked back by an assessment panel for the second time.

Locus Development Group is proposing to demolish buildings at the corner of Stack and Amherst streets to make way for 55 townhouses on the site.

The Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel today refused the developer’s updated plan for the Fremantle project, dubbed Monument East.

The JDAP refused an earlier version of the development application in November, which led to Locus applying to the state administrative tribunal for a review of the decision.

Locus amended the proposal under SAT orders and after mediation sessions.

Amendments include increased landscaping, landscaped central parks, reduced dwelling yield, increased housing diversity and the number of parking bays.

Locus director Damian Long said the team was disappointed with the outcome, but more so with the process.

“We lodged the development application and corresponding subdivision application in May last year,” he told Business News.

“The WA Planning Commission saw fit to grant approval for the subdivision and the planning staff at the City of Fremantle saw fit to recommend approval prior to the previous refusal.

“We have spent almost two full days in the SAT with the presiding JDAP member as part of the mediation process acting in good faith to resolve the issues held by the JDAP in their refusal.

“With the revised plans being presented again today for approval – we were not expecting the refusal, and can only see that we in attempting to provide 55 affordable family homes are stuck in a broken system.”

Business News understands Locus could either amend the plan again or progress the ongoing appeal in the SAT.