AMB Holdings’ flags $20m move

Mining heiress Angela Bennett’s private company AMB Holdings is eyeing an expansion, proposing to build a $20 million office and apartment development in Swanbourne.

AMB Holdings submitted a development application for 126 Railway Street, near Swanbourne station, earlier this year to be considered by the Metro Inner-North Joint Development Assessment Panel on August 31.

The company is the investment vehicle of mining magnate Peter Wright’s daughter, Mrs Bennett.

The proposed mixed-use development comprises a two-storey residential component with a rooftop terrace and a two-storey office with external terraces and basement.

Other proposed features include private communal facilties in the basement, being a gym and sauna, plant rooms, stores, and a 12-bay carpark.

The office component is intended to accommodate AMB staff, which were about 40 people, according to the application prepared by Allerding & Associates.

“The building has been designed to ultimately accommodate up to 60-80 staff,” the application said.

The application said AMB Holdings’ proposal was the third development application for the 1,475-square metre site on the corner of Railway and Congdon streets, within the Town of Cottesloe's jurisdiction, since 2019.

“The proposal is a significant improvement on the two previously approved development proposed for the subject site in terms of its design, functionality and relationship with the commercial and residential surrounds,” the application said.

Data from CoreLogic shows AMB Holdings bought the site from Wise Earth for $3.6 million in mid-2020.

Ecotect founder and Wise Earth director Garry Baverstock received approval for a $10 million development on the Railway Street site in early 2019.

The development, dubbed the Swanbourne Village Trust’s Ilios Project, was designed by Mr Baverstock and James Shaw.

Completion was expected by late 2021 but the Railway Street lot remained vacant.

Cedar Woods is also progressing a market-led proposal named Swanbourne Village Project, with a masterplan of the area immediately around Swanbourne Station being prepared.

AMB Holdings submitted its development application in March this year.

The application said the residential component of the development would be a four-bedroom apartment on the second level, to be connected to the rooftop garden.

“The residents are also part of the company of AMB so will not generate or require additional separate parking,” it said.

“All occupants of the dwelling will work in the commercial building on site.”

AMB Holdings is pursuing a Living Building Challenge certification for sustainability, the application said, with the civic pavillion portion or roof component to be decked with solar tiles.

“Upon certification, the AMB hub will be only the third development in Australia to receive LBC certification and the first of its kind in WA, a significant milestone worth celebrating,” according to the application.

“The intergenerational living, combined with AMB’s principal commercial and philanthropic activity, integrates a work/live environment that is ideally suited to its Swanbourne Village location.”

AMB Holdings’ office was located in Peppermint Grove but is now based on Rokeby Road, Subiaco.