Buisness News | Katie McDonald
The revised design has reduced overall height by 6.6 metres. Image: Klopper & Davis Architects
Gary Dempsey Developments has reduced the height of its $22 million beachfront development proposed along Marine Parade in Cottesloe, as part of revised project plans.
The Perth-based developer originally lodged plans for a nine-storey, 16-apartment project at 120 Marine Parade last December, via the State Development Assessment Unit, which was established in 2020 to streamline projects as part of the state’s COVID stimulus measures.
The updated plans, which has removed one level reducing the number of apartments to 14, was considered significant enough by the SDAU to warrant a second community feedback period, which starts today and runs until April 30. Under the SDAU process, development applications are determined by the Western Australian Planning Commission. The Cottesloe council has previously publicly spoke out against the project, forwarding a submission to the SDAU outlining that the design breached the local height limit by 12.5 metres. However, Gary Dempsey Developments founder Gary Dempsey has stated how his proposal will revamp the coastal strip, which he said hadn’t seen large-scale property development in more than 10 years. Mr Dempsey said that his team had worked closely with the architects to take into consideration the views of those across the local community. “We believe we have addressed the community’s concerns regarding the development’s height and scale and have responded accordingly,” Mr Dempsey said. “We reduced the overall height by 6.6 metres and in doing so have brought the proposed plan down to eight levels and removed the original roof terrace as part of the comprehensive design review. “Our team has worked closely on the amended plans with award winning local architecture practice, Klopper & Davis Architects, to produce an updated design that we believe is betting of its iconic Marine Parade location and that also reflects what the community would like to see.
A comparison shot of the previous plans versus new plans. The revised plans also feature an amendment to the upper levels, which are now sculpted inwards reducing the setbacks which the developer said would have a marked impact on the updated design’s overall size and scale. “While we’ve been able to retain the more sculptural design elements, we’ve altered the proposed plans so that it is more in line with community expectations for the site,” Mr Dempsey said. Other aspects of the project includes solar passive features and design measures that enable the building to achieve an average 8.3 NatHers rating. The plans also propose the provision of green open space open to the general public, as well as a ground floor café.