Green light for Edge’s Crawley project

A development assessment panel has unanimously approved Edge Visionary Living’s $70 million proposal for a nine-storey apartment opposite Steve’s Bar and Café in Nedlands.

The Perth Local Development Assessment Panel approved Edge Visionary Living’s proposal to build a nine-storey building at 168 Broadway at its meeting today.

Edge Visionary Living is proposing to build 21 luxury apartments and 46 car parking bays on the Crawley site.

The Gavin Hawkins-led developer has partnered with Hillam Architects and town planner Urbis for the project.

The initial application proposed a seven-storey building but plans have been amended for a slimmer, nine-level structure.

Despite discussions on traffic and potential loss of tree canopy along Broadway, the panel members were supportive of the application.

“Not only the design responds to the existing context well, I think it also is suited to what we envisaged the future, evolving context for this locality and this precinct,” acting specialist member Jason Hick said.

“That’s without considering additional height in future applications along Broadway.

“It captures the history and art deco [of the area], combined with a very contemporary edge to that.”

Hillam Architects associate Louise Ward said the proposed development would improve the streetscape and contribute to the future of Crawley.

“We think it’s undergoing a change and will be quite different in the future,” she said.

Edge Visionary Living head of developments Mike Harvey said early engagements with the city, which started in April, helped the developer team before it submitted the application in August.

Hillam Architects director David Hillam said more local governments could follow the City of Perth’s process.

“It was good that before meeting with the Design Review Panel, to engage with the city,” he said.

“Local authorities could have the same consultation on amenities and impact and not be preoccupied with concerns about height.”

An existing three-level residential apartment building on the 1,413 square metre site will be demolished.

Construction of the project is expected to start by mid-2023.