Plan approved for Forrestdale industry hub

Plans for a major industrial hub at Forrestdale are gathering momentum, with planning approvals granted and manufacturing giant Hitachi preparing to start construction on a new $100 million headquarters.

Planning Minister John Day today said the Forrestdale Business Park West structure plan had been approved, following months of negotiations with landowners and stakeholders.

The approval paves the way for Hitachi to begin site works on its new headquarters in April this year.

Hitachi is a major supplier to the mining industry, providing equipment to Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group and BHP Billiton.

The structure plan allows landowners to develop minimum lot sizes of between 1,000 and 3,000 square metres for general, service and light industry.

In the coming weeks the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority will consider a proposal from LandCorp to create a series of fully-serviced sites on 44 hectares at the northern end of the park.

Sales could commence for the sites by mid-2014, subject to approval from the WA Planning Commission.

The plan also sets aside a 61ha area at the northern end of the business park for long-term environmental protection.

Mr Day said the plan was a win-win for the environment and industry development in the area.