Perth Voice Interactive

WOOLWORTHS are planning to open a store at the old Bunnings site in Inglewood.

The DIY store, at the corner of Beaufort Street and Eighth Avenue, was razed to the ground by an intense fire in February, and many locals have been waiting for a replacement to be built.

Despite repeated enquiries to Bunnings HQ about the site’s future, we didn’t get an answer about whether it’d be rebuilt.

But Stirling councillor Bianca Sandri recently revealed the city had received a planning application for a Woolworths, liquor store and small shop on the Bunnings site.

It’s still being processed by the city, but once it’s ready you can comment at http://www.yoursay.stirling.wa.gov.au/DA

Because the development is likely to cost more than $10 million, planning approval will rest with the state Development Assessment Panel, consisting of two councillors and three state-appointed planners.

Any development costing above $10 million has to be handled by the DAP. If a development costs between $2 million and $10 million, developers can choose between the DAP or council.

Few choose council, with the DAPs considered more developer-friendly.

In 2016, Aldi purchased the block at the corner of Beaufort and Tenth Avenue, only 110m away.

That project has been slowly working its way through the planning process, but the owners are now advertising for tenants to join Aldi in the building and the real estate agent’s ad states it’s scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2019.

by DAVID BELL