Ascot hotel with 15 storeys and rooftop restaurant approved for Great Eastern Highway overlooking racecourse

Perth’s latest multi-storey hotel has been approved along with its rooftop restaurant and bar for Great Eastern Highway overlooking Ascot Racecourse and the Swan River.

The Metro Inner Development Assessment Panel voted 3-1 this week in favour of Strive Pty Ltd’s $40 million, 15-storey complex for the corner of the highway and Aurum Street.

The plan includes 226 hotel rooms, 22 serviced apartments, the restaurant, meeting rooms, swimming pool, outdoor terraces, and would be next to the Belmont RSL and in a part of Ascot that includes restaurants and the nine-storey Quest and four-storey Ingot hotels.

Panel members Dale Page, Francesca Lefante and Eugene Koltasz dismissed City of Belmont concerns, including those expressed by Belmont mayor Robert Rossi, about overlooking into the property at the back of the development which includes a house and stables.

Ms Page said it was unreasonable to expect the developer to prevent direct overlooking on to the stables property because “you are hardly ever going to prevent direct overlooking”.

So she got support from her colleagues to have the plans amended to include horizontal screening to “minimise overlooking” of adjoining properties.

Deputy presiding member Ms Lefante said the development was appropriate in its context of a busy Great Eastern Highway and surrounding commercial properties, including the residence with stables.

She said “horses are different from residents” and many councils recognised the impact large animals could have on the amenity of the area.

Ms Lefante said the design was very well thought out and included a “significant tower”.

“And I accept that is within the existing provisions of height and therefore within the framework as set in the current (planning) scheme,” she said.

“But it is unusual for us to see so little of the overall site being taken up with building and I think the inclusion of a significant (open space) area surrounding it is a positive outcome for the area.”

Mr Koltasz praised the 4.5-star standard of the planned hotel which he said would be unique along Great Eastern Highway from Tonkin Highway to the city, except for the casino.

Mr Rossi said while it was an “outstanding building” he was concerned about its impact on surrounding properties.

“Whether they are horses, whether they are commercial people, there will be an impact,” he said.

“I’m concerned that the horizontal screening won’t be enough. So for that purpose, I won’t be voting for this.”

The plan includes provision for 132 car parking bays.