MIDAP approves Scentre Groups seven-story Almondbury Road development despite councils suggestion not to

State planners have overruled City of Melville objections and will allow apartments reaching seven storeys to be built in a residential cul-de-sac across the road from Westfield Booragoon. On Tuesday the Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel voted against the City of Melville’s recommendation to reject the apartments proposed by shopping centre owner Scentre Group and in favour of allowing the complex of 57 units and three townhouses. The $38.5 million development — which includes a rooftop garden area for residents — is planned across three blocks in Almondbury Road and Bragor Place, Ardross, just metres from the shopping complex Scentre Group owns and operates. Bragor Place residents panned the look of the “grossly inappropriate” apartments at a special council meeting this month and said their cul-de-sac was not where a driveway into such a large complex should be located. At the time, the council unanimously agreed. But MIDAP presiding member Francesca Le Fante on Tuesday said the proposal was consistent with the Melville city centre structure plan and therefore should be approved. “It is the most appropriate location for high density and height being directly opposite the shopping centre which has heavy traffic movement,” she said. “The design is exceptional from my perspective both in terms of its form and scale as well as in its materiality and the architectural elements. “I believe the proposal respects Bragor Place in terms of traffic and pedestrian safety, I agree with the applicant and disagree with the suggestion that Almonbury Street should to the access point to the apartments given the road classification does provide for intensification of traffic volume in that street.” Melville council representatives Glynis Barber and Daniel Lim argued against its approval but were outvoted 3-2. Cr Lim told other members of the panel the development presented few community benefits and contemplating its approval “defies common sense” . “There is genuinely one per cent of community benefit,” he said. “It presents a serious safety risk for children in Applecross and Ardross and it is based on what I believe is a flawed assumption that they will navigate traffic like adults,” he said. “The development will transform the character of the quiet residential street into a fairly high-traffic zone for this area by more than doubling current volumes and with an oversized visually intrusive structure.” Ms Le Fante described the community benefits Scentre Group’s planner Urbis was offering as “generous”, although locals such as Bragor Place man Simon French called them “disrespectful”. Urbis associate director Rebecca Travaglione had previously told the council the development would bring millions of dollars worth of benefits. “The city is behind on its dwelling targets so it needs to take opportunities like this to deliver housing in this area and in suitable locations,’ she said. “The benefits of this development to the community, we put a value to that, which you would have seen is around $3.5m under our calculation.”