By Claire Ottaviano
A 250-bed pod hotel, the first of its kind in WA, has been given the green light by Perth planners after initial controversy.
The four-storey $8 million tourist development proposal on Essex Street in Fremantle was deferred in October over concerns its height and visual impact would impose on adjoining residents.
Plans for a pod hotel in Fremantle were approved by the inner-metro development assessment panel on Tuesday.Credit: Composite Image: inner-metro Development Assessment Panel
New plans approved by the inner-metro development assessment panel on Tuesday included revised plans to reduce the building height by half a metre from 13.8 to 13.3 metres.
LyLo Fremantle is to be the WA version of locations already in New Zealand and Queensland.
The approved development has 80 rooms with 247 beds, a small bar and communal dining, kitchen, laundry and bathroom areas with a 24-hour reception.
The panel approved the development 4-1, with the two City of Fremantle panel representatives disagreeing.
City of Fremantle Councillor Ingrid Van Dorssen told the public present at the meeting that despite “being in their shoes” as a previous petitioner against “developments like this”, she was satisfied the proposal met planning conditions.
“It’s not an easy decision,” she said.
“They’ve made some minor changes, for me personally they didn’t go as far as I would have liked them to, but they are improvements.
“I do not consider four storeys to be overdevelopment of a city site ... the height is consistent with adjoining properties.”
Fellow Councillor Andrew Sullivan did not agree, stating the approval would set a precedent.
“Our job is not to just listen to members of the public or the applicant, we are the jury of the town planning Scheme and the scheme requires consideration of the immediate environment that this building sits within,” he said.
“There was ample opportunity for the applicant to get a significant development on this site and also present an architectural form that is appropriate to the buildings that abut it.
“For me, that is the only sticking point, but it’s not one that’s been adequately addressed by the applicant and at this point it must be a refusal.”
At the October meeting numerous presentations from residents abutting the development expressed concerns about heritage issues, noise, waste management and the prospect of backpackers staring into their gardens and milling about on the streets, calling it “a nightmare” and “monstrous”.
They also said guests being in rooms of only two metres by one, without private space to relax, would spill to the streets and create noise and crowding issues.
But the proponents said LyLo was part of an experienced and established company that had put together a team with local experience.
They said they had carefully considered and addressed the issues alongside the City, and the plan was compliant with planning and heritage requirements.
LyLo managing director Tim Alpe said the development would be a hotel with the “personality of a hostel” and Fremantle lacked budget accommodation.
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