Warwick Quarter: Plans revealed for $280m seven-building apartment and commercial development

Plans have been revealed for a major apartment and commercial hub in Warwick valued at $280 million and comprising more than 1000 dwellings. Public consultation is now open until September 30 through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage website for seven apartment buildings - some as high as 25 storeys - consisting of 1042 apartments on Ellersdale Avenue and Dugdale Street. The development application by town planners Rowe Group proposes mixed-use buildings containing apartments and commercial tenancies next to Warwick Grove Shopping Centre. The development, named Warwick Quarter, lists three 25-storey buildings, one 12-storey, two 10-storey and one seven-storey building. A total of 574sqm of commercial floor space and 1510 basement parking bays is also proposed. An applicant development report by Rowe Group said the construction aimed to address the housing crisis by boosting housing stock and offering affordable housing to the area, noting a 20 per cent rise in dwelling price last financial year. “Local solutions to tackle this (housing) problem involves creating more housing in underdeveloped opportunity areas and introducing diverse housing types where they are currently limited,” the report said. “(Boosting housing stock) can be achieved by emphasising multi-dwelling units and apartments in areas where such options are scarce, enhancing the diversity and suitability of available housing types.” The report also claims the development will create 1013 full-time equivalent jobs during the construction phase and 34 ongoing jobs per year, along with adding $4.7 million to the WA economy. “The addition of 1715 residents is anticipated to add an additional $32.8m of retail expenditure to the area after the completion of the development,” it said. The site is within the Warwick commercial centre, with most of the area subdivided into freehold lots in the early to mid-1990s to a childcare centre, car wash, offices, fitness centres, bowling facility, community centre and place of worship. It is proposed to build six of the seven buildings on vacant land. The building currently occupied by Core Fitness Centre would be demolished to make way for one of the 25-storey apartments. All apartment buildings are also set to include a communal swimming pool on level 2. Other features could include a gym, sauna, cinema, playground, cabana and virtual golf. Work is expected to start this year and be completed in three stages. Two of the smaller apartment blocks are listed to be completed within 24 months by 2026. Work on the three 25-storey blocks is scheduled to start in 2026 and be completed by 2029. The final stage is expected to start in 2029 and be completed in 2031. The report lists stage one as mostly comprising two-bedroom dwellings, with some three-bedroom dwellings. However, it notes that the proposed timeline could be followed only without a structure plan as implementing one would delay any start on work by up to three years. “The critical reason to proceed in the absence of a structure plan is the timeframe associated with the preparation and adoption of a structure plan and the associated delay in the release of dwellings which are urgently needed,” the report said. “The time involved in the preparation and adoption of a structure plan could be between two to three years, with the subsequent determination of a development application and Building Permit an additional six to 12 months. “This would mean that the first stage of 201 dwellings would not be completed until 2029.” Each of the seven buildings are proposed to incorporate one commercial tenancy on their ground floor, ranging in size from 39sqm to 160sqm. Permitted uses include convenience stores, fast food outlets, restaurant or cafe, office, shop and small bar. The report listed the owners of the development as Silkchime Pty Ltd. ASIC records lists Silkchime as the owners of Warwick Quarter and the business registered in August 2023, with the organisational representatives listed as Abdul Hadi Azlan and Perth property developer Norm Carey. Details of the development are: Building A 41 apartments across seven storeys, a 72sqm commercial tenancy and two levels of basement parking with 66 car bays. Building B 162 apartments across 12 storeys, a 83sqm commercial tenancy and four levels of basement parking with 233 car bays. Building C 243 apartments across 25 storeys, a 35sqm commercial tenancy and six levels of basement parking with 343 car bays. Building D 192 apartments across 25 storeys, a 160sqm commercial tenancy and five levels of basement parking with 264 car bays. Building E 243 apartments across 25 storeys, a 129sqm commercial tenancy and six levels of basement parking with 365 car bays. Building F 91 apartments across 10 storeys, a 56sqm commercial tenancy and four levels of basement parking with 140 car bays. Building G 70 apartments across 10 storeys, a 39sqm commercial tenancy and two levels of basement parking with 99 car bays.