A series of developments planned for Lord Street in Perth, near Members Equity Stadium, are the first steps towards what developers and the Town of Vincent hope will be a renewal of the area.
A series of developments planned for Lord Street in Perth, near Members Equity Stadium, are the first steps towards what developers and the Town of Vincent hope will be a renewal of the area.
West Perth-based property developer, Swanline Developments Pty Ltd, has the largest portfolio of potential projects, having bought three properties in the area for redevelopment, the first just more than a year ago, on the corner of Lord and Summers streets.
The 4,500 square metre site currently houses some old offices, although Swanline intends to construct a block of apartments to take advantage of views over Members Equity Stadium, with retail and office space below.
Swanline Developments director Paul Trettel said the company had been looking for a potential development site for some time when it bought the land.
“It’s an area we quite liked, given its proximity to the city, the views and the size of the parcel of land,” he said.
Midway through last year, Swanline also bought the old Norwood Hotel and an adjacent land parcel on the corner of Lord and Windsor streets, with a combined space of 2,800sqm.
At the same time, it purchased a 2,000sqm lot in Claisebrook, situated just behind its original Summers Street site.
The company, which received approval to demolish the Norwood Hotel earlier this month, has drafted plans for a mixed-use development on the site and is awaiting approval from the Town of Vincent.
The plans include two separate buildings containing offices and apartments, with ground floor retail space.
Mr Trettel said he expected the Summers Street site to be developed after the Norwood, while development of the Claisebrook site had been deferred.
He said the projects would help to transform Lord Street and its surrounds.
“The intention is to regenerate the area and to create some vibrancy along the street, and to take advantage of the (East Perth) Power Station redevelopment in the longer term,” Mr Trettel said.
However, he said development of the area as a whole would proceed more slowly than other urban renewal projects.
“It was always going to be slower than Subiaco or East Perth, where the government took over redevelopment; it’s really going forward on a private base here,” Mr Trettel said.
Further along Lord Street, another residential development, called Woodley Apartments, is due for completion in July.
An application has also been lodged for a development opposite the Norwood Hotel, on the same side of Lord Street, which would comprise apartments and commercial space.
The Town of Vincent, which acquired the Lord Street precinct from the City of Perth last year, is keen to ensure the developments link in with the larger East Perth Power Station redevelopment.
Town of Vincent Mayor Nick Catania said projects such as a proposed pedestrian footbridge over East Parade would make the area more user-friendly.
