Frustration from council as Nedlands apartments given seal of approval

A 10-storey 27-apartment block in Nedlands has been given the go-ahead despite concerns over its height and number of residences dominating calls for its rejection.

An independent development panel approved the Thomas Street plans – off Stirling Highway – on Wednesday after originally knocking it back in May over its then-11 storey height and 29-apartment density.

Composite image: Concept plan for the Thomas Street boutique apartment in NedlandsCredit: City of Nedlands and RAD architecture

The $16 million modified proposal came back to the panel on Tuesday minus two apartments and with a one-storey height reduction.

The panel voted four-to-one to approve the amended plans despite a City of Nedlands Council recommendation to refuse the application stating the height and plot ratio were excessive, would overshadow other residents and encourage even taller development.

Panel member and City of Nedlands deputy mayor Kerry Smyth, the sole voter against, expressed frustration at the delayed enactment of two local planning frameworks which imposed maximum height limits at the site.

These included an amendment to the local planning scheme to limit building height at the lot to nine storeys and the Nedlands Stirling Highway Activity Corridor Strategy which included a maximum of eight storeys.

She said some Nedlands councillors felt concerns were being ignored while the pending planning policies awaited Western Australian Planning Commission and ministerial approval.

“We’ve gone through the process over years to get to this, and still, it is not being given weight when it’s imminent,” she said.

“The members of the [development panel] from the council are so frustrated … because no matter how often they turn up, what cases they present, what work is done in developing these policies, it doesn’t make any difference, and I find it just really frustrating.”

But presiding panel member Francesca Lefante said she was satisfied planning framework conditions had been met.

“From my perspective, the planning framework as it currently stands, provides full discretion in a variety of areas, and that includes areas of plot ratio, height and those sorts of elements,” she said.

“I’m cognisant that provisions around height are also balanced against a number of other provisions within the codes, which includes locational context.

“I’m satisfied that a proposal of this height in this location is not so inconsistent with the strategic actions that are being taken by the City.”

The City of Nedlands received 11 responses supporting the development and nine against.

Read more:

‘This is difficult’: Reynolds’ shock testimony about political firestorm of 2021

Woodside punts $3.7 billion on US clean ammonia project

RBA holds rates steady, admits ‘substantial uncertainty’ on outlook