WAPC approves $108m Claremont apartments

The state's peak planning body has approved a 19-storey apartment development with an estimated value of $108.9 million to be built in the heart of Claremont's town centre.

The Western Australian Planning Commission approved developer Kuraland’s proposal to build n 86-apartment building next to Claremont Quarter at its meeting today.

A two-storey commercial development on the subject site, 22 St Quentin Avenue, will be demolished to make way for the approved project.

The developer has also proposed to contribute to façade works on the adjacent church building, the former Claremont Methodist Church.

Kuraland managing director Kenny Lim said the development would be a transformative project for the Claremont town centre.

“Built to the highest standards, the project will provide much-needed housing and amenities to reinvigorate the heart of the Claremont community,” he said after the WAPC meeting.

“The development will also breathe new life into one of Claremont’s finest heritage buildings currently used as the community library, with the forecourt to be given free of cost to the Town of Claremont as public space for the entire Claremont community to enjoy, after it has been enhanced with new landscaping, furniture and paving.

“Our plans will expand the Claremont Town Square while providing exciting new retail and dining venues, enhancing the activation of the area and providing space for future community events.

“The expanded town square will be connected to the new public space via a publicly accessible walkway – creating a new pedestrian link between Stirling Highway and Claremont Station along Church Lane.”

Urbis associate director Tim Dawkins, on behalf of Kuraland, said the team hoped the developemnt would contribute to the Claremont town square.

In his presentation to the WAPC, Mr Dawkins said 85 per cent of the ground floor would be activated through commercial tenancies.

Kuraland estimated that the investment in the development would be more than $100 million and 174 jobs would be supported during the construction period.

“This will be a truly landmark development with a slender tower, distinctive and modern design that will help bring people back to our town to live, work and play,” he said.

The Town of Claremont council did not support the proposal, recommending the project be refused because of inconsistencies with the height, plot ratio, and parking requirements in its local planning framework.

However, WAPC chairman David Caddy said there had been a number of iterations because the town had been working on its planning framework since 2013.

Mr Caddy said there might be reasonable grounds for refusing the proposal but the development achieved the intent of various planning instruments and the state planning framework.