Woolworths scraps Bunnings demolition for $13m refurb

Woolworths has amended its plans to build a $15 million shopping centre at the former Bunnings site in Clarkson, scrapping the proposed demolition of the warehouse in favour of a refurbishment.

In July, the retail giant’s development arm, Fabcot, received approval to build a Woolworths supermarket, seven specialty retailers, a liquor store and a restaurant at the three-hectare site on the north‐eastern corner of Marmion Avenue and Neerabup Road.

The development application proposed the demolition of the 20-year-old Bunnings Warehouse currently occupying the site, which has sat vacant since the company relocated in 2014.

However, a new development application, lodged by town planning consultancy Urbis on behalf of Fabcot, has proposed the warehouse instead be refurbished and the liquor store removed.

The plan, designed by Subiaco-based architectural firm Brown Falconer, has resulted in a substantially different built form and has shaved $2 million off the development, which now has an estimated cost of $13 million.

The retention of the existing building is also expected to almost halve the development’s carbon footprint, reduce steel production and associated installation and transport costs, and reduce the need for concrete through the retention of the existing slab.

According to the application, the development is also expected to create about 79 jobs during the construction phase and provide more than 270 jobs once completed.

The new proposal has already received the green light from the City of Wanneroo, which has recommended the Metro Outer Joint Development Assessment Panel approve the plans when it meets next week.

Until July, the site was owned by real estate investment trust BWP Management, owner of Bunnings Warehouse sites.

But according to BWP’s latest portfolio assessment, the trust entered into an agreement to sell the Clarkson property to an “unrelated third party”, with the settlement having occurred on July 30, 2021.

The site is estimated to be worth $14.5 million.

The panel is due to make a determination on the application at a meeting next week.