Statement on SPC Approval of Seven-Storey Development in Wembley
Published on 08 May 2025
Comments attributed to Town of Cambridge Deputy Mayor Ben Mayes:
On Wednesday 7 May 2025, the Deputy Mayor Ben Mayes and Town of Cambridge Director of Planning and Community Services Luke Gibson attended the Western Australian Planning Commission (WAPC)’s Statutory Planning Committee (SPC) to strongly represent the Town and our community’s concerns relating to the proposed seven-storey development at 288-290 Cambridge Street in Wembley and urged the SPC to refuse the application.
The Town of Cambridge is deeply disappointed with the decision of the SPC to approve the development. We believe that the SPC has not given due consideration to our local planning frameworks and the concerns raised by our community.
The Town’s key issues with the development include its excessive height, bulk, scale, and inadequate rear setback, which overlooks low-density housing and impacts the residential character of the area.
We are also concerned about the misleading nature of the Department’s report and the seemingly selective application of the various planning instruments in its assessment of the proposal. An example of this was the report inaccurately suggesting compliance with the Local Planning Strategy when the development clearly does not meet the requirements of the Strategy for this particular site.
Our draft Local Planning Scheme No. 2 is being actively progressed, with the Council having formally responded to the Department’s suggested changes earlier this year, and with the matter now with the Department for action. Commentary to suggest that the scheme is being held in abeyance is both incorrect and unhelpful. Moreover, in the Town’s view, the SPC’s decision does not sufficiently weigh community feedback, despite the majority of respondents opposing the proposal.
The Town of Cambridge supports well-planned urban renewal and is committed to maintaining a balanced planning framework that respects community expectations while accommodating growth. However, the approval of this development risks undermining community confidence in the planning process.