Recommendation to defer decision on future of Norman House made to development assessment panel

A decision on whether the demolition of Norman House is given the green light looks set to be deferred for up to six months, but an initial report suggests knocking down the building should not be supported. The proposed demolition of Norman House, which is included on the City of Albany’s heritage list, was included in a development application to build 25 new dwellings submitted by Advance Housing Limited last year. Due to the scale of the $21.7 million proposed development, a decision on its approval needs to be made by a sitting of the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel. A meeting of the panel has been set for February 1, but a report prepared by the City of Albany recommends deferring the matter for up to six months to allow AHL to prepare revised plans for the project. The deferral will allow AHL to revise its plans to align with an impending change to the State’s policy guiding residential design. A revised plan will also be an opportunity for AHL to address other matters raised in the city’s report, including heritage considerations. During a public comment period last year, the city received 110 written submissions, 99 of which were against the proposal primarily because of objections to Norman House’s demolition. A petition aiming to save Norman House was also submitted with 124 signatures. A summary of objections references not wanting to lose a historical landmark, a rare building, a building with connections to significant families and a building cherished by the community. In response, AHL stated the replacement building would interpret the landmark value by matching size and scale, that the building is not rare, that the new building intended to recognise early families and that there was no clear indication Norman House was cherished by the community. While the City of Albany has recommended deferring a decision on the development, its report also notes that “the heritage outcomes were unable to be supported in their current form”. It states that “the anticipated social benefits” of the proposed development “should not override considerations of equal importance and significance to the community”. “These considerations have the potential to yield detrimental social impacts on community wellbeing and identity,” the report states. “The proposed demolition of Norman House and other heritage outcomes, in their current form, threatens to sever the community’s connection and undermine the sense of identity and place associated with these locations. “This pertains not only to their architectural values and historical significance in Albany’s initial growth but also encompasses social values tied to the community’s enduring connection with the uses of these spaces over time.” The report also noted the City considers the site, between Frederick Street and Stirling Terrace, as “highly appropriate to demonstrate that quality residential development outcomes at medium densities can be achieved in inner urban areas”.