Three high-rise towers in Subiaco get rubber stamp from planners despite growing community, council fears

Plans for Subiaco’s tallest building to be built next to the suburb’s former football oval have been waved through by State planners, kickstarting the long-awaited Subi East precinct redevelopment. State Government planning agency DevelopmentWA this month approved plans from Malaysian developer UEM Sunrise for a 125m-tall, 36-storey skyscraper, along with a 26-storey tower and an 11-floor building, at the western end of the oval site. Construction of the contentious triple-tower apartment complex is expected to start in 2026. “The proposal achieves the objectives of the Subi East Masterplan, which identifies the site for a high-quality, high-density residential outcome,” DevelopmentWA’s approval read. The $450 million development approval is for 342 apartments across the three towers, providing homes for 1000 new residents by 2028 or 2029. About 12 per cent of the units will be categorised as affordable housing. UEM Sunrise chief executive Sufian Abdullah said the towers would usher in a new era of lifestyle and living in the Subiaco East precinct. “We’re really excited to be granted development approval for this important project, the first in the Subiaco East precinct and we look forward to bringing our international expertise and the unique UEM Sunrise experience to Perth,” Mr Abdullah said. UEM’s plans to transform the pocket of Subiaco have faced significant community backlash since they were first mooted in May, with locals concerned about the view the towers would afford into nearby Bob Hawke College. The development was also not supported by the City of Subiaco’s council in August when Mayor David McMullen suggested the application instead should be outright rejected. “This alternative is to signal our dissatisfaction with the application in its current form, but to leave the door open on discussions about benefits and the various flaws in the proposal,” he said during the meeting in August. More than 300 objections were received from members of the public but DevelopmentWA said those concerns were “predominately related to development in this location generally, rather than the specific proposal”. “The proposed development has met the requirements to vary building heights, and in doing so provides an alternate design outcome which reduces permissible bulk and scale, resulting in no additional dwelling yield and associated traffic impacts, improved overshadowing outcomes and a suitable interface with Subiaco Oval,” its statement read. As part of the approval, UEM will also deliver infrastructure to support community events at nearby open spaces, as well as providing storage facilities at the oval for the local football clubs.