Proposed Nedlands apartment complex to boost housing ahead of mega UWA-QEII medical precinct

A seven-storey apartment complex could rise across the road from the Hampden Hotel in Nedlands amid plans to transform the area into a mega medical precinct. Property developer Exal Group is touting 18 dwellings and two commercial tenancies, as well as basement parking, to replace a set of business units at the corner of Hardy Road. Its location would place new apartments within walking distance of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth Children’s Hospital, Hollywood Private Hospital and other aspects of Perth’s major medical precinct. “The proposed development will contribute to this urban transformation, integrating with the existing streetscape while respecting the established residential character of the wider Nedlands area,” Exal Group’s planning report read. “This precinct has been identified to respond to its location within the UWA-QEII specialised activity centre, while also catering to the needs of the local community.” The city of Nedlands is asking for feedback on the proposal before any decisions are made. It follows a State Government decision earlier this year to ride roughshod over local councils and create a new planning scheme for the corridor between the hospitals and the university. “A State-led approach allows for strategic planning to be coordinated by a single entity, with the necessary oversight of Government and its agencies,” a Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage spokesperson said following the announcement. The scheme is still light on specifics, but given the precinct would link the University of WA to the QEII Medical Centre and has been touted to become a housing hub for students and workers, more apartments and housing complexes are likely to become sought-after within the area. “The UWA-QEII activity centre is one of the largest health and knowledge precincts in the southern hemisphere, and it is critical that its potential to deliver employment, economic development and housing is reflected in the future planning framework,” Planning Minister John Carey said previously. The public comment period for Exal Group’s proposal ends on December 13.