Northbridge residents outraged over high-rise plan for heritage area
Plans to expand Northbridge’s entertainment precinct into neighbouring residential streets have drawn fierce community backlash, with buildings of up to 20 storeys to tower over heritage-listed homes.
Locals say the move would wipe out more than a century of history and push out small businesses that give the area its charm.
The blue zone shows heritage listed areas, which would face the proposed high-rise buildings.Credit: The City of Vincent
The City of Vincent Council will vote on the controversial William Street extension at Tuesday’s meeting. The proposal covers land between Bulwer Street, Lindsay Street and Baker Avenue, Newcastle Street and Lake Street, and would see buildings soar well above current heights.
Under the plans, the City Toyota building on Newcastle Street could jump from eight to 20 storeys, while the William Street car park could rise to 12.
More than 100 submissions were received during public consultation in February and March, with the majority opposing the proposed high-rises. Many argued large-scale developments would overwhelm the predominantly low-rise streetscape and strip the area of its identity.
A flier headed “Help Us Save William Street” was disseminated among residents which encouraged interested parties to send letters objecting the proposal.
In response to the feedback, amendments have been recommended to the draft proposal including reducing the height of the William Street car park from 20 storeys to 12.
Rob Piper, a long-time resident of the affected heritage streets, said he was stunned when he saw the planning details.
“I’d heard whispers about multi-storey buildings nearby, which, I thought, were just grim rumours. But when I got hold of the plans, I was absolutely shocked,” Piper said.
“This is not an entertainment precinct – it’s a residential area and has been for 130 years. You’ve got butchers, grocers, hairdressers. It’s an entirely different dynamic.”
Following the 1890s gold rush, homes were rapidly built in the Northbridge area. Migrants mainly from Greece and Italy in the mid-20th century shaped the area’s culture and enduring Mediterranean character.
Vincent City Council will vote on the proposal that will allow some buildings to reach 20 storeys.Credit: The City of Vincent
Piper feared small businesses and longstanding residents would be driven out by the encroaching development and the unique character eroded.
The City’s plans designate Lake Street’s Plateia – the public space between Aberdeen and Newcastle Streets – as the new precinct’s heart, described in planning documents to act as a “vibrant focal point” for public events, dining, entertainment, retail and commercial activity.
William Street was earmarked in the City’s local planning strategy in 2018 as a location for more housing, businesses and community spaces.
The extension framework, which was underpinned by consultation including letters to neighbours, two workshops and two ‘walkshops’ attended by 106 people, and two online surveys, as well as advertising of the draft, promised to manage growth while preserving heritage and character.
City of Vincent Mayor Alison Xamon said the state government had identified Vincent’s town centres as preferred locations for future development to meet infill targets and the local government was required to faciliate this.
The current scheme that took effect in 2018, she said, allowed for medium and higher density development in established town centres and mixed-use areas such as William Street to avoid development pressure in lower-density residential areas.
She said the proposed framework for William Street included standards to ensure any redevelopment recognised the distinct character of the area.
“The concern is that without this framework, and by not including realistic density targets, the West Australian Planning Commission will remove the City from the decision-making process entirely,” she said.
“This would risk seeing developments that will be wildly out of character and
with a far greater impact on areas such as the Brookman and Moir Heritage Area.”
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