Planning problems in Subi, South Perth

The City of Subiaco has been trumped by the metropolitan west development assessment panel, while residents in South Perth face a two-month wait to learn the fate of a contentious apartment project on Mill Point Road.

In Subiaco, Devwest Group recently won approval for a six-storey apartment block on the corner of Hay and Olive streets, despite significant opposition from the local council.

The approval, issued recently by the metropolitan west joint development assessment panel, followed the City of Subiaco’s council recommending the project be rejected, despite its own planning officers considering the project to meet the suburb’s town planning guidelines.

Devwest’s proposal comprises a six-level apartment block containing 72 dwellings, along with offices, shops, a restaurant and two levels of car parking.

According to DAP agenda documents, the council believed the proposed building would have an adverse impact on the amenity of the area because of its height and bulk.

Business News understands a six-storey wall on the southern boundary of the site was of particular concern to the council, while issues were also raised regarding a lack of car parking for restaurant customers.

Devwest Group director Chad Ferguson said the company was happy to be able to progress the development after an extended period of bureaucratic wrangling.

“We are very pleased with the approval - it's taken four years to achieve an outcome,” Mr Ferguson told Business News.

“We are looking forward to delivering an exciting project that will assist in the revitalisation and sustainability of Subiaco post-football."

Mr Ferguson said a date had not yet been set for a sales launch, instead saying the developer would assess market conditions and act when the timing was right.

Meanwhile, in other DAP news this week, South Perth residents will have to wait another two months for a decision on the contentious Lumiere development at 74 Mill Point Road.

Edge Visionary Living's Lumiere proposal has caused consternation among South Perth residents.

The Lumiere saga has grabbed headlines in recent months after a groundswell of opposition from local residents resulted in a successful Supreme Court challenge to overturn approval for a nine-storey apartment tower on the site.

The Supreme Court said the project did not meet City of South Perth planning guidelines, which prescribe a building of that height to be predominantly for commercial use.

Edge Visionary Living subsequently proposed an even bigger tower, at 44 storeys, but included serviced apartments to satisfy the commercial-use requirement.

The DAP was due to rule on the larger project yesterday, but deferred it for two months to allow the developer to address traffic issues that would arise during construction.

The DAP decision follows the City of South Perth on Tuesday endorsing new amendments to its town planning scheme, which prescribe much stricter height limits for that portion of Mill Point Road.

Those amendments still need to be assessed by the Western Australian Planning Commission and Planning Minister Donna Faragher.