The state's peak planning body has approved Perron Group's five-year extension plea over its $1 billion Cockburn Quarter project.
The state's peak planning body has approved Perron Group's five-year extension plea over its $1 billion Cockburn Quarter project.
The Western Australian Planning Commission today approved the time extension to 2029 at its meeting, following a recommendation from the state government’s Significant Development Assessment Unit.
A $1.08 billion proposal to double Cockburn Gateway Shopping Centre’s retail footprint and build residential components on the Success site was approved by the WAPC in October 2021.
The approval included a condition for substantial construction of the project to start within three years or by October 28 2024.
Earlier this year, Perron sought a four-year time extension, citing extenuating circumstances in the construction market.
Element Advisory principal Murray Casselton, on behalf of Perron, supported the SDAU’s recommended time extension period.
“The extension of time of five years would provide essential investment certainty and breathing space for Perron Group to finalise this process and to determine how best to deliver the project on the face of ongoing challenging market conditions,” he said at the WAPC meeting.
In her assessment, SDAU director Paola Di Perna said the application only sought to extend the timeframe, and not change the approved built form.
“Given the scale and complexity of the project, including the requirement for additional permits and approvals for intersection works and the new pedestrian bridge, a five-year extension is considered reasonable to complete Stage 1A of the development,” she said.
“The reasons the commission supported the original application remain valid and therefore the development remains capable of approval.
“The applicant has provided documentation demonstrating the steps that have been undertaken to implement the approval, affirming the proponent’s ongoing commitment to the project despite significant challenges presented by current market conditions.”
The 21.4-hectare Cockburn Quarter subject site is on the corner of Wentworth Parade, Beeliar Drive and Kwinana Freeway in Success, and contains the shopping centre.
The residential component of the project comprises 832 apartments across 14 residential buildings, ranging from nine to 16 storeys, and 26 two-storey townhouses.
Mr Casselton said Perron expected to come back to the SDAU to amend the design and staging of the shopping centre works.
