Local Planning Policy - St Johns Wood Estate Fencing

Council at its July 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting adopted Local Planning Policy 5.15 - St Johns Wood Estate Fencing, The Policy is available as part of the City's Local Planning Documents accessed via the City's website. Copies can also be viewed at the City's Administration Building located at 71 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, WA, 6009. 

The City of Nedlands is seeking comment on the draft St Johns Wood Estate Fencing Local Planning Policy. Submissions can be made through the online form at the bottom of this page.

Background

The draft St Johns Wood Estate Fencing Local Planning Policy seeks to retain the character of the streets of the Estate by providing design guidelines for fencing in key locations which have the potential to fall into disrepair or be altered, affecting the uniform appearance of the Estate.

Uniform fencing was created along a number of streets within the Estate as part of the original subdivision and are included as a restrictive covenant on the Title. These restrictive covenants are between the original developer and buyers of each lot, not the City. As such, the City has no current statutory authority to enforce any such provisions except where they overlap with existing statutory instruments such as the Residential Design Codes. In addition, fencing requirements contained in Town Planning Scheme No. 2 were removed from Local Planning Scheme No. 3. Consequently, there are currently no fence design requirements specific to this area.

Draft Policy 

The draft Policy seeks to provide criteria for uniform fencing for key zones based on standards established during the original subdivision of the Estate. The draft Policy introduces fence design criteria for eight zones within the Estate, as shown on the map above.

The Policy provides objectives and figures supporting specific design and material provisions within the eight highlighted zones. These zones include:

• Playing Fields
• Montgomery Avenue (South)
• Montgomery Avenue (North)
• Camelia Avenue and Mooro Drive
• Beecham Road
• Grainger Reserve
• Heritage Lane
• Directors Gardens

The draft Policy is also proposing the addition of a provision not allowing front fencing to maintain the open, spacious fell of the location.

What is happening now?

The draft Local Planning Policy will now be advertised until 2 May 2024. 

Members of the community are invited to make a submission online, via email at planning@nedlands.wa.gov.au or by sending hard copy submissions to the City’s Administration Building at 71 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, WA 6009. For email and hard copy submissions, please include:

• Subject line: Draft St Johns Wood Estate Fencing LPP
• Full name
• Address
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Address of property affected (if applicable)
• Whether you support or object to the draft St Johns Wood Estate Fencing LPP, or if you are providing comment only.

Feedback received will be taken into consideration prior to the amendments being provided back to Council. Please note that written submissions are not considered confidential and may be published in Council agendas. Everyone who submits a comment will be notified when the policy is referred to Council for a decision.

The Policy is also available for viewing at the City Offices. Closing date for submissions is 2 May 2024.