A stoush has erupted over mandatory public art fees amid high construction costs, with Silverleaf Investments winning an exemption to the fees for first stage of its Fremantle Woolstores project

A major developer has successfully applied for an exemption from mandatory public art fees at a time when projects are getting shelved over cost escalations.

Silverleaf Investments on Tuesday won its bid to avoid the $140,000 public art or heritage works contribution on the first part of its $100 million Woolstores development in the centre of Fremantle.