Scentre Group has successfully sought a four-year delay to redevelop the shopping centre, pushing the project out further.
Scentre Group has received a four-year extension for its $792 million redevelopment of its Westfield Booragoon shopping centre.
The retail giant gained development approval for a multi-million-dollar overhaul of the asset, formerly called Garden City, in 2023.
Scentre Group in January this year applied to extend the substantial commencement deadline by four years, meaning it would not need to start work on the project until 2029.
The Western Australian Planning Commission this afternoon approved that request at a short meeting.
Speaking on Scentre Group’s behalf, Urbis senior consultant Farida Farrag said the retail fund has “actively and conscientiously sought to implement [its] approval” since 2023.
“Scentre Group has demonstrated a strong commitment to proceed with the development, but for the reasons outlined in our application, substantial commencement hasn’t been achieved within the two-year approval period,” she said.
Urbis cited labour shortages and supply chain issues as major reasons for the delay in proceeding.
When asked why the company needed another four years to start the project, Scentre Group development executive Darren Evans pointed out the complexities around the development.
“It’s a complex project, it’s dealing with a live site, an operational centre in a challenging environment,” he said.
“It’s a reasonable time period to ensure that we can get a major project going in this difficulty climate.
“We’ve been working very hard for two years and it has been challenging to be able to proceed with the proposal.
“I think the four years is a reasonable prior to enable a project of this size to come together.”
WAPC chair Emma Cole pointed out the importance of the development to the City of Melville’s revitalisation of its main street.
Mr Evans added that the project would be built in stages.
Scentre Group now has until May 2029 to commence works.
