A new mixed-use commercial development including childcare and medical services has been approved for the Forest Lakes Shopping Centre precinct in Thornlie.
At its February 10 meeting, the City of Gosnells Council unanimously approved an application for a 4,319sqm single-storey commercial centre at 3 Finsbury Drive, adjacent to the existing shopping centre.
The development will include a private recreation facility, childcare premises for up to 76 children, medical and allied health tenancies, as well as shops, offices and a restaurant or café.
The site is a vacant 8,783sqm lot zoned District Centre under Local Planning Scheme No. 24 and forms part of the Forest Lakes District Centre Precinct Structure Plan, approved by the WA Planning Commission in November 2024.
According to the City, the proposal aligns with the precinct’s objectives to diversify services within the established centre and support community-focused uses.
City of Gosnells Chief Executive Officer Ian Cowie said the applicant had indicated the development was expected to be completed within two years, although a confirmed construction start date had not been provided to the City.
Mr Cowie said the childcare premises had been designed to accommodate up to 76 children.
He said the application did not specify the exact mix of medical centre tenancies but allocated 393sqm for medical use and 693sqm for allied health services.
“The total number of ongoing staff positions was not specified in the application,” Mr Cowie said.
Public advertising was not required as part of the assessment process, as all proposed land uses were classified as either permitted or discretionary under the planning framework.
The development includes 101 parking bays, including seven on-street bays on Finsbury Drive, bringing the total number of bays within the broader Forest Lakes District Centre precinct to 914. The precinct plan identifies a total of 932 bays to be delivered as remaining land is developed.
Council approval is subject to a number of conditions, including submission of a detailed landscaping plan, drainage plan and materials schedule prior to a building permit being issued. The applicant must also comply with an approved acoustic report to manage noise from the childcare centre, recreation use and mechanical services.
A public art contribution equivalent to one percent of the total project cost, up to a maximum of $250,000, will also be required in accordance with the City’s policy.
The proposal was carried 10 votes to nil.
