Griffin’s $16m Applecross project pushes through despite city challenge

Planning authorities have approved local developer Griffin Group’s plan to build a $16.27 million six-storey apartment building in Applecross, despite pushback from the City of Melville.  

The Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel greenlit the project on 5a and 5b Macrae Street on Thursday morning, with three members supporting the application and two against it. 

Menora-based Griffin’s vision for the development features 21 apartments of two and three bedrooms, with a ground floor car park of 32 bays and a rooftop garden. 

City of Melville councillor Nicole Robins opposed the application, stating at the DAP meeting there were too many discretions sought in regards to the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan.

She cited the proposed building exceeded the required height of 20 metres at 20.2 metres, did not meet the minimum 10 per cent requirement of dwellings being one-bedroom with no one-bedroom options, did not meet setback, visitor bay and driveway length requirements.

Ms Robins also expressed concerns with the plan omitting waste collection onsite and the length of community consultation for the revised plan. 

When the plan was initially introduced to receive public feedback, it had been advertised as short-term accommodation.

There were 43 objections, mostly surrounding residents concerned the accommodation would be used as an AirBnB. 

“There are too many cases where assessment is being sought against the desired outcomes,” she said. 

MIDAP deputy presiding member Dale Page, however, disagreed with the councillor.

“The number of discretions sought is not a valid consideration,” she said. 

Ms Page acknowledged the discretions sought but said it overall aligned with the desired outcomes of the precinct plan. 

“I’m happy to support the proposal,” she said. 

“It’s a preferred use in this precinct and it aligns with the desired outcomes of both the current and drafted versions of the Canning Bridge Activity Centre Plan. 

“I note and I endorse the pragmatic approach of the city in having due regard to the draft of the activity centre plan but not requiring significant design changes to ensure full compliance with it.”

The site fronting Macrae Road has been vacant since 2022.

Griffin has two other projects in Applecross underway. 

Astoria Applecross – comprising six townhouses on 4 Tweeddale Road – is set to complete construction in quarter one of next year. 

Over at 65a Canning Beach Road, five full-floor apartments in a project called Manhattan Residences Applecross are estimated to finish in quarter three of 2027.