South Perth apartment complex with 23-storeys and aged-care facility recommended for approval by council

A $120 million, 23-storey apartment complex in South Perth, featuring a mix of residential apartments, aged-care facility and a restaurant/cafe, is set to transform the local skyline. The proposal has been recommended for approval by the City of South Perth and is set to get the green light from State planning authorities today, despite concerns from local residents about its height and potential impact on the surrounding area. Should the project be approved, it would include 102 residential units, 18 care suites within the aged-care facility, along with medical services designed to support the health and well-being of the aged residents. The development would feature 12 one-bedroom apartments, 62 two-bedroom apartments and 28 three-bedroom apartments, with four of these being penthouses. The ‘L-shaped’ lot of the proposed apartments is positioned to the west of Perth Zoo, at the corner of Lyall Street and Labouchere Road in South Perth. The site was initially planned for a 38-storey vertical village featuring 98 luxury apartments but this development was halted due to rising construction costs during the COVID-19 pandemic and was officially cancelled in October 2023. Given its prime location near Perth Zoo and South Perth Bowling Club, Sirona Urban managing director Matthew McNeilly was pleased with the new design, which he believes could cater to a diverse range of home seekers. “We’ve put a lot of thought into enabling those who want to downsize to make the absolute most of their later years in accommodation that suits their lifestyle needs, at the same time releasing much-needed existing properties to the market for other families to begin a new generation in the area,” Mr McNeilly said. “The Lyall Street location is an easy walk to everything: the Swan River foreshore, Mends Street Good Grocer, cafes and restaurants, local medical services, and specialty shops. In addition to the apartments and aged care facility, the development is set to feature a residents’ lounge, fitness centre, cinema and pool. However, not everyone is pleased with the proposal. Public consultation was carried out through written notices to 969 neighbouring properties, resulting in 19 formal objections. The most common issues raised in opposition to the development were its height, obstruction of views and concerns over visual privacy. “This proposal gets an absolute NO from me. It is blocking our last views of the City, is significantly devaluing our home, might well block the sun as well which is decreasing the quality of life in our homes and at the pool,” one neighbouring resident said. “The proposed development will substantially compromise the privacy of my home and the other residencies of The Sanctuary, including the associated outdoor communal areas,” another said. Despite objections from local residents, the City of South Perth concluded the proposal would be suitable for the area. “The development is of a scale and design which is also broadly consistent with the existing and desired future development within the locality,” the report stated. “Matters that have the potential to adversely impact the amenity of adjoining residential properties are appropriately addressed through details contained within technical reports and via the recommended conditions of development approval.” One of the conditions set by the city requires the applicant/owner to contribute one per cent of the development’s estimated cost towards public art, either through a payment to the City of South Perth, capped at $1 million or by providing public art on-site, as per the city’s local planning policies. The Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel is set to make the final decision on the proposal today, Thursday, May 1.