A development assessment panel has approved a two-year extension to start construction of a Nedlands project that has gone through a change of ownership and planning hurdles.
A development assessment panel has approved a two-year extension to start construction of a Nedlands project that has gone through a change of ownership and planning hurdles.
The Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel has approved a time extension for the development on 135 Broadway at its meeting today.
Estimated to cost $9.25 million, the six-storey project comprises 16 dwellings, an office tenancy and 37 car parking bays.
The development was submitted in 2019 but was refused by the then-development assessment panel.
After appealing the decision to the State Administrative Tribunal, the applicant received the green light in 2020 with a condition for substantial construction to start within two years.
Menora-based Griffin Group took over the project from Cedar Cove in 2020 and revised the design to remove the proposed serviced apartments.
The commencement date was further postponed by another two years under the state government’s emergency powers during the pandemic.
However, the start date of April 3 2024 has lapsed, which prompted Griffin Group to request another time extension.
The DAP today approved the time extension by a margin of three votes to two, with City of Nedlands councillors Rebecca Coghlan and Kerry Smyth voting against.
Cr Coghlan said the project had gone through a convoluted process, including a change in ownership and a legal review in SAT.
“This has been tortuous; this [application] was in my first ever council meeting,” she said.
“It was the first apartment building that was assessed against the new code in May 2019, when it came into the planning framework.
“This site has been given so much allowance and now again we are going to allow an extension of time. I mean, what is an acceptable time to build?”
The majority of the panel voted to grant the extension, with DAP deputy presiding member Lee O’Donohue saying the construction market had been under duress.
“It’s not the first time to be asked to extend, but I think two years is an appropriate period,” she said at the meeting.
Urbanista Town Planning director Petar Mrdja, on behalf of Griffin Group, said his client was confident the development would start construction by the new deadline of April 2026.
