WA Planning Commission approves Sirona Urban’s high-rise twin towers on Station Street, Cottesloe

High-rise apartments and a luxury hotel are coming to Cottesloe after a contentious twin-towers style development was given approval yesterday by WA’s peak planning body. The green light for Sirona Urban’s plans for 17 and 15-storey towers on Station Street has been heralded as a transformative moment for Cottesloe that will take development pressure off the suburb’s famed coastline. But it proved a fight to the end after hundreds of locals campaigned against the height of the development, with many pleading with authorities to enforce a 10-storey maximum limit. Town of Cottesloe deputy mayor Melissa Harkins cited the height and scale of the development and overshadowing it will cause in popular Napoleon Street as reasons the council had also opposed the high-rise. Ultimately, the WA Planning Commission voted 4-1 in favour for what Sirona Urban managing director Matthew McNeilly says will cost $200 million but provide a “seven-day 18-hour economy” designed for everyone. “We are grateful the WAPC can see potential in Sirona Urban’s vision to transform Cottesloe’s town centre into a world-class, mixed-use precinct that will involve bringing together thoughtfully designed apartments, a luxury-lifestyle hotel, and a hospitality precinct in a development that will take pressure off the coast,” Mr McNeilly said. A total of 128 luxury hotel rooms will occupy the building’s lower levels, while 125 residential apartments — including studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as penthouses — will comprise the upper levels. The landmark towers will rise in the town centre east of Cottesloe train station on top of a three-storey podium base to span 1300sqm of commercial and retail space. Cottesloe council said it acknowledged Station Street was an appropriate location for increased density as its collaborative precinct structure plan with the adjoining Shire of Peppermint Grove allowed future development in the area in a way that “benefits both residents and visitors”. “Comprehensive consultation conducted by the town revealed a shared vision: support for thoughtful infill development that retains the character and atmosphere of Napoleon Street — a much-loved hub of local cafes, shops, and public life,” Cr Harkins said after Thursday’s decision. “Protecting its blue-sky outlook and avoiding overshadowing is a priority for our community.” But Mr McNeilly told the WAPC on Thursday the future vision for the area had been under-realised, with Sirona Urban’s planned development an opportunity to connect Napoleon Street’s shops with a food and beverage destination. “We are investing over $200 million into this precinct. That’s a bold vote of confidence in Cottesloe’s future, and we recognise that kind of ambition can be confronting. Being the first often is,” he said. “But we’ve done this before. In Fremantle, we led the renewal of Walyalup Koort — once doubted, now celebrated. The same opportunity exists here.” As part of the approval, an existing block of commercial tenancies along Station Street will be knocked down to make way for the major development. The hotel will also include a restaurant, function area, lounge, bar, co-working spaces and a pool. Residential facilities include communal amenities on the podium roof such as a pool, cocktail lounge and a gym. Four levels of basement parking with 289 car bays round out the plans. The proposal received significant backlash from Cottesloe locals during a community feedback period late last year. Less than 10 per cent of the 764 public submissions gave unqualified support to this development, and more than 90 per cent opposed it entirely or supported it subject to a maximum 10-storey height limit.

WA Planning Commission approves Sirona Urban’s high-rise twin towers on Station Street, Cottesloe

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