Green light for $38m Como apartments

A nine-storey development in Como has been approved, with the developer proposing to build more than 100 apartments to offer affordable accommodation amid Perth's housing crisis.

PRD Developments proposed to build 121 apartments, ranging from one to three bedrooms, across a nine-storey building on 202-204 Melville Parade in Como.

The City of South Perth opposed the proposal, recommending it be refused because the nine-storey built form represented an “over development” of the site.

However, the Metro Inner-South Joint Development Assessment Panel approved the project, which has an estimated value of $38 million on the development application, at its meeting this morning.

PRD Perth project marketing director Angus Murray said the proposed development target mid-market dwellers rather than luxury downsizers.

“The whole concept behind this project was to try and develop some mid-range apartments with a water view in a suburb like Como,” he said.

Mr Murray said the area was already dominated by luxury apartment projects, including Lumiere South Perth.

The proposed apartment building on Melville Parade, Como. Image: Colliere Architecture via JDAP document

According to the application prepared by town planner element, three lots would be amalgamated to form a 2,977 square metre development site.

PRD Developments, Krummenacher Fishing, and 10 individuals were listed on the application as owners of the site.

Matthew Brice, one of the site owners, said the Canning Bridge precinct looked uneven because work on the Applecross side of the river had been moving rapidly but nothing was progressing on the Como side.

“The current buildings on the site are old and pretty much a detriment to Como, if you ask me … which is the reason why nearly the whole street is up for sale,” he said at the meeting.

“We also need to consider the economic benefit to the community a project like this will bring. Perth is in a housing crisis right now.”

JDAP member and city councillor Glenn Cridland was the only one to vote against PRD's proposal, citing issues with car parking, loss of views for nearby dwellers, reduction in public open space, and the size of the apartments.

"It’s not just about the height. It’s also how fat the building is that prevents the people [views]," he said.

"If the rooms had been bigger, that would provide better amenities with people who live there."

Despite acknowledging the concerns from the city, JDAP acting deputy presiding member Lee O'Donohue said the positive aspects of the project would override the negatives.

"I was concerned about ninth floor but I thought about it ... there's a benefit of future redevelopment of the site. We tend to see more upmarket luxury products," she said.

Ms O'Donohue said the building would offer a diversity of housing, particularly for people who would not usually be able to afford riverside dwellings.

Colliere Architecture designed the nine-storey proposal.