A proposal for a five-storey development in West Perth has been given a thumbs up from the City of Vincent, despite more than 300 objections received during public consultation.
A proposal for a five-storey development in West Perth has been given a thumbs up from the City of Vincent, despite more than 300 objections received during public consultation.
Planning Solutions, on behalf of Saracen Properties, lodged the $25.5 million application with the Metro Inner-North Joint Development Panel in May.
The application comprises of seven commercial tenancies, a hardware store, child care premises, fast food outlet, bulky goods showroom and a small bar.
The site covers 8,771 square metres of land bounded by Newcastle Street, Old Aberdeen Place, and Cleaver Street; an area promoted as an emerging arts hub and referred to by local business owners as the 'Pickle District'.
In the city’s responsible authority report (RAR), the officer recommended the JDAP approve the proposal at its meeting next week.
“The development provides for a range of land uses which would be compatible with and complementary to the existing and future locality, and uses would not prejudice residential redevelopment occurring on other sites within the precinct,” the RAR said.
“The development is proposed at a scale and intensity that is complementary and compatible with adjoining properties and the area.”
After 29 days of public advertising, the city received 330 submissions with 309 responses in objection to the proposed development.
Concerns include the proposed building's scale being incompatible with the surrounding area, more traffic congestion in the area and a potential wipeout of the existing creative businesses in the Pickle District.
The proposed five-storey development in West Perth. Image: Meyer Shircore & Associates Architects
According to the RAR, the applicant submitted amended plans following the community consultation but the application was not re-advertised to the public as it was not significantly different to the original.
Bunnings has been confirmed as the hardware store tenant in the application.
The proposed childcare is expected to cater for 130 children.
Existing buildings on the subject site would be demolished, if the application is approved.
Business owners in the area, who call themselves the Pickle District Town Team, previously raised concerns about the proposed development.
The area has grown to be home to several businesses, including Linton & Kay Galleries, Holmes a Court gallery and Old Habits.
In June, gallery owner and director Janet Holmes a Court said the proposed Bunnings was located “slap-bang” in the middle of the Pickle District and its impact would be insurmountable.
“Not only will it erase small businesses and art galleries, but also shatter the heart of the Pickle District and future opportunities for the ongoing development of this area as a unique multi-arts destination,” she said.
The application by Planning Solutions said the project would be the first major mixed-use multi-storey development in the area.
The application also said the development would be three-storeys on Newcastle Street but five-storeys from Old Aberdeen Place, due to the site being on a slope from north to south along Cleaver Street.
