Apartment developer Blackburne’s $235 million plan to redevelop Subiaco’s Pavilion Markets site has received final approval from planning authorities, paving the way for a formal marketing launch next month and a potential construction start by early next year.
Apartment developer Blackburne’s $235 million plan to redevelop Subiaco’s Pavilion Markets site has received final approval from planning authorities, paving the way for a formal marketing launch next month and a potential construction start by early next year.
The Metropolitan West joint development assessment panel today unanimously approved Blackburne’s plan to create a 24-storey mixed-use precinct on the Pavilion Markets site.
Along with 235 apartments, Blackburne’s plan for the site includes a hospitality precinct, which will feature restaurants and fast food options alongside a small bar and a tavern, as well as a redeveloped permanent market.
The approval follows the City of Subiaco giving the project its tick earlier this month.
Blackburne managing director Paul Blackburne said he expected the project to be the catalyst for significant change in the inner-city suburb, which was still adjusting to a less-lively hospitality and retail market following the exit of AFL football to Optus Stadium.
“The suburb’s location between the city and the beach and its unique heritage-style buildings, theatres, bars, restaurants and cafes mean that without doubt, Subiaco will become the most sought-after destination for western suburbs people and people outside of Perth to live in the coming years,” Mr Blackburne told Business News.
Mr Blackburne said he expected the sales campaign to be short, after the developer had already received more than 400 registrations of interest prior to the project being approved.
“We’ll be launching an off-market sales campaign starting next month and we expect to have the majority of apartments sold well before starting construction,” he said.
“While it’s good to have a formal DAP approval, we were quietly confident it would be approved because high-quality mixed use developments on a train station, in a town centre, logically can and should be approved.
“Although we had to wait until today, I think it was a logical outcome for the site and a great thing for the people of Subiaco.”
Mr Blackburne said the unanimous approval from DAP, as well as majority support from the City of Subiaco’s councillors, was validation that the developer had put together the right plan for the site.
“We’ve broken the project down into three buildings with three unique designs and characteristics,” he said.
“Rather than one big building it is three small buildings, each with its own unique look and its own architecture.
“When we do the release next month, buyers will be able to choose an architectural design that matches their individual style.”
Prior to approval, the City of Subiaco’s design review panel of five independent architects gave the project the highest score ever in the suburb – 29 out of 30 – classifying it as design excellence, Mr Blackburne said.
“Not only all that from the professionals, from the extensive public comment period, there were 537 submissions from public, of which 87 per cent voted strongly in favour,” he said.
“People want the markets back, we are bringing back the markets, we are opening up the ground level, there is going to be a mix of bars, restaurants, cafes, provedores, permanent markets underneath and weekend popup markets around the site.
“We certainly feel a great sense of responsibility to the people of Western Australia to deliver something iconic in this unique location, we’ve assembled a team of the best of the best to ensure we can deliver a world class development to the people of WA.”
