Gary Dempsey Developments’ founder and managing director, Gary Dempsey, has welcomed yesterday’s decision by the Western Australian Planning Commission to approve its iconic Marine Parade Cottesloe development. 

The luxury beachfront development is located at 120 Marine Parade Cottesloe, between Beaches Café and the Cottesloe General Store, and is the culmination of years of planning, consultation and design.

The GDD team worked closely with award winning WA Architectural practice, Klopper & Davis Architects, to produce a design that we believe is befitting of its iconic coastal location and that draws inspiration from its natural surrounds.

The approved, seven-level design is down from the original nine storeys and comes after two rounds of extensive community advertising and consultation by the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage as part of the significant development assessment pathway.

The revised plans submitted earlier this year were considered significant enough for the department to conduct a second round of public advertising and consultation and also saw the reduction in the number of apartments from 14 to 12 and the removal of a planned roof terrace to reduce the overall height.

Mr Dempsey said that he was happy with the Commission’s decision today after years of planning and investment and that he looked forward to taking the next step in the development process after a protracted approval period.

“We have listened to the community’s feedback and commentary at each stage of the approval process and adjusted our design accordingly,” he said.

The revised, approved design will see the overall height reduced by 8.8m (or approximately two storeys) and the upper levels of the design sculpted inwards to reduce the building’s overall size and scale.

WAPC chairman David Caddy said yesterday that in approving the development the commission noted the high quality of design which was commended by the State Design Review Panel.

The seven-storey design was also supported by the Heritage Council.

The commission also noted that the revised design was just 20cm higher than the height controls set under the Town of Cottesloe local planning scheme and would create minimal overshadowing of the beachfront and minimal impact on view from the Civic Centre.

“Escalating construction costs in WA are currently proving a real barrier to getting projects off the ground, so we are happy to have finally got to the stage where we can commence construction works, albeit later than we would have hoped.

“As evidenced in numerous media reports in recent months, rising construction costs and lack of skilled labour and materials are pushing out completion timelines and having a significant impact on the ability of developers to viably bring good projects to market,” Mr Dempsey said.

He said the revised design meant they were able to retain the more sculptural design elements and retain a range of cutting-edge design features that would enable it to achieve an industry leading average 8.3 NatHERS rating well in excess of the six-star requirement.

The design will also incorporate solar passive features throughout and include the provision of green open space for the public to enjoy and a ground floor café.

As with all Gary Dempsey Developments, 120 Marine Parade will be a non-smoking environment and is designed to enhance the celebrated Western Australian costal lifestyle.

Mr Dempsey said that he expected construction to commence early in 2022.