Grange reveals plans for Mosman Park

Grange Development Consulting has unveiled plans to transform a site on Stirling Highway into an 80-apartment project, the group's second proposal on the highway following its controversial application for the Chellingworth Motors site in Nedlands.

Grange managing director James Dibble told Business News the company had earmarked 572 Stirling Highway in Mosman Park for the development of 80 apartments (a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments) across eight levels, with an additional ground floor level comprising 1,219 square metres of lettable commercial space. 

The 2,603sqm landholding is currently home to an IGA and Subway, with a development application anticipated to be submitted for the site later this year.

The Mosman Park project, designed by award-winning architect Elenberg Fraser, will be the second Western Australian project for the Victoria-based developer, which Mr Dibble said confirmed Grange’s commitment to WA.

The announcement follows recent criticisms over Grange's plans for a 301-apartment mixed-use development on the Chellingworth Motors site at 97-105 Stirling Highway in Nedlands.

In conjunction with Victoria-based Costa Property Group, the groups have lodged a development application for four towers comprising: 301 residential apartments (a mix of one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments); communal areas for residents including a pool area, children's play area, gym and wellness retreat; several hospitality, retail and office tenancies; and a motor vehicle sales tenancy.

The development follows Lands Minister Rita Saffioti stepping in to develop The City of Nedlands Local Planning Scheme 3, which was gazetted into law in April 2019 and enables developments of significant height, particularly those in the ‘Mixed Use Zone’ on Stirling Highway.

The proposed 301-apartment mixed-use development at 97-105 Stirling Highway. 

Grange and Costa’s project would be the largest apartment development in Nedlands’ history – a significant milestone for one of Perth’s most established suburbs.

The project has already faced strong opposition from the City of Nedlands Mayor Cilla De Lacy and some local residents.

Ms De Lacy told Business News that, as part of the council’s community consultation process, it had received 576 community submissions for the project, with fewer than 50 submissions supporting it.

The official public comment process closed on May 22, however, Ms De Lacy said she had not yet been through those submissions as the city was yet to finalise its responsible authority report.

“Anecdotally I have heard that traffic impacts, overlooking and overshadowing (it will even shadow the historic Rose Gardens), infrastructure needs (water, energy) and lack of open space have been some of the comments,” Ms De Lacy told Business News.  

“If approved, the council and the community are likely to lose even more faith in the process, as the State Design Review Panel, after three reviews of the proposal, has given it a scathing assessment and says the only place for it is Perth’s CBD, which I agree with.

“Of great concern is the fact the proposal provides no public benefit.”

Grange is still pushing ahead with its plans and Mr Dibble pointed to the significant public amenity the development would create for the area.

“In terms of public benefit the development offers two public laneways (the rear laneway and central Piazza) of which an access easement is wilfully being granted to the city,” Mr Dibble said.

“The development also contemplates a library which was being considered to be offered to the city and public amenity. The development provides co-working and traditional office which is in short supply in Nedlands and most importantly provides a benchmark of design excellence for the transition of the town centre which in and if itself provides significant community benefit.”

Additionally, Mr Dibble said in response to the number of submissions, that high number wasn’t unusual for a building of state significance, noting 135 Broadway had more than 300 submissions for a project of 29 dwellings.

Mr Dibble said the company had taken the State Design Review Panel’s suggestions into consideration, resulting in three complete redesigns of the project, with the panel’s comments incorporated at each iteration.

“Shadow modelling available to the public in the development application submission show negligible shadow impact of this development (including the Rose Gardens) by virtue of the fact that the site is of a significant size in land area and is on the north of Stirling Highway,” he said.

“Any shadowing on residential dwellings will occur from parcels on the south side of Stirling Highway for obvious reasons.

“The development exceeds the requirements by a long margin in terms of amenity, public offerings, landscape and its ESD (Environmentally Sustainable Design) credentials. Reports provided by the relevant authorities do not conclude that of which the mayor, Cilla De Lacy, is suggesting.”

Grange is not the only developer to front opposition in Nedlands, with a 15-apartment, five-storey project on Vincent Street and a separate six-storey residential development on Louise Street also recent subjects of contention.

Mr Dibble highlighted that community consultation had been an important and significant part of the process for the Nedlands project to date, located on the corner of Baird Avenue and Dalkeith Road.

Mr Dibble said the land's "appropriateness" was noted as a logical landmark site in the council’s own precinct plan, commissioned by the City of Nedlands via an independent planning company (Niche Planning), suggesting a 6:1 plot ratio and a maximum height of 20 stories (inclusive of bonuses) was appropriate for the site.

"I note Mayor Cilla De Lacy voted in support of the precinct plan (10 votes in favour, two against) and as per the resolution below explicitly at a 6:1 plot ratio," he said. 

“By locating density in the heart of a suburb one can alleviate almost all density from fine grain streets and thus preserve the streetscape and architecture that has taken generations to develop. 

“We will never develop in fine grain streets of suburbs and never have for this reason.”

To read more about apartment projects taking shape across the Western Suburbs, keep an eye out for Business News’ annual Apartments Special Report, out online Monday June 22.