‘Student housing on steroids’: $55m Fremantle co-living tower approved

3 months ago 16

A $55 million accommodation tower described as “student housing on steroids” was approved unanimously by a state development panel last night, clearing the way for one of Fremantle’s most unique housing models yet.

The six-storey building on Queen Victoria Street, set to replace a long-standing open-air car yard, was given the green light at the Metro Inner Joint Development Assessment Panel meeting on Thursday night.

The building is on the corner of Queen Victoria and James Street.

The new-age development, by real estate investor Marprop Pty Ltd, includes 119 “co-living” apartments, 83 hotel rooms, and shared amenities such as a pool, cinema, gym, sauna and restaurant.

Marprop representative James Theodore told the meeting the project was designed to provide flexible, medium-term housing.

“Australia is in a housing crisis. There’s a desperate need for dwellings,” he told the panel.

“We’re able to offer three months to three years of living… in everything from studios to three-bedroom units.”

The panel backed the plan despite almost 40 community submissions, many warning the transient living model would attract party-goers and fuel noise and crime concerns.

Other nearby residents raised women’s-safety fears in shared spaces, arguing strong security and on-site management would be essential.

Theodore said more than half of the accommodation was expected to be taken up by AUKUS staff who would spend part of their time living on a ship or submarine.

“They’re typically 20 to 26 years old and are generally single. This is highly attractive to defence personnel,” he said.

The building will house a hotel and co-living units.

The agenda revealed a 267-bay parking shortfall, with just 61 bays on site, which the developer argued was mitigated by its proximity to Fremantle train station.

The Heritage Council also signed off on the proposal, finding the tower would have only a “minor adverse impact” on the neighbouring Dalgety Wool Stores.

Fremantle councillor Andrew Sullivan told this masthead the development was a long time coming.

“It’s fantastic. Nearly 15 years ago we were looking at a new vision for this area … it’s fantastic to see a development like this come to fruition,” he said.

Fremantle councillor Andrew Sullivan said the building would be “fantastic”.

Sullivan said the co-living model reflected an international trend.

“It’s like student housing on steroids…a small bedsit unit with a huge amount of shared living areas,” he said.

“We’re a university town in Fremantle with plenty of overseas students, and we’re also a creative industries’ town. It will be an exciting addition to the area.”

The developer must begin construction within four years or the approval will lapse.