Albany to impose height restriction for beach development

The City of Albany is set to specify a 12-storey, 46m maximum height on any high-rise development at the former Esplanade Hotel site at Middleton Beach.

The council is set to vote on the controversial Middleton Beach Activity Centre Structure Plan after it was approved by the Planning and Development Committee last week.

The concept plans, developed by Landcorp, sparked public debate over the future of the prime development site on Marine Terrace that has sat vacant since the Esplanade Hotel was demolished in 2007.

If the plan is approved at this month’s council meeting, it will still require approval by the WA Planning Commission.

A number of amendments were made to the original concept plans after the report to council said the majority of the 237 submissions from the public received raised concerns over the proposed building height of five to 12 storeys.

Of the 237 submissions received, 108 raised significant concern or objected to the proposal, while 72 were in clear support and 47 offered conditional support.

According to the report, the City also received two petitions opposing a building height of 12 storeys with a combined 403 signatures.

“While there is some support for the proposed height limits and a small number of submissions have called for additional height on the site, the majority of submissions object to the proposal to allow 12-storey development,” the report read.

“Many members of the public have stated that they consider the proposed building heigh limit over the hotel/mixed use site to be over development and strongly at odds with the character of the wider area.”

The report said 46m would be the “absolute limit” at the site.

“Any development proposal in excess of 21.5m or five storeys would have to demonstrate exceptional design,” the report read.

“Opinion on the potential building height limit for this site covers a broad spectrum, with some members of the public objecting to any development in excess of three storeys, while others suggest that a limit of eight or ten storeys may be more appropriate.”

The report said Landcorp proposed the 12-storey height limit on the building in response to industry feedback that it would be more attractive to investors.

An amendment to the recommendation, requiring the heigh limit for primary levels abutting Middleton Beach limited to one to three storeys, proposed by deputy mayor Greg Stocks, was passed.