Guildford Hotel apartments move closer

UPDATE: The City of Swan is seeking public opinion on an apartment building out the back of the historic Guildford Hotel, under the condition that the project be limited to a height of 25 metres, which would allow for around seven storeys.

Business News erroneously reported yesterday that the City of Swan council resolved to approve changes to its town planning scheme last night to allow for the development.

City of Swan Mayor Charlie Zannino said this was not the case, and a public comment period would likely start in late January or early February, while the Heritage Council, the National Trust and other agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, would also be consulted.

"Council will then consider whether to support or reject the amendment," Mr Zannino said.

"This will then go to the Minister for Planning for a final decision."

The proposed building would comprise ground floor commercial space, two storeys of deck car parking and four storeys of residential units.

Other conditions endorsed at the council meeting included significant setbacks to reduce the visual impact of the development at street level.

The owners of the Guildford Hotel, the Martino family, say the apartment development is required to fund the refurbishment and restoration of the heritage-listed hotel, which was gutted by fire in 2008 and has sat in a decrepit state since then.

The current state of the dilapidated hotel's interior.

Guildford Hotel co-owner Luke Martino told Business News earlier this year that a tenancy agreement had been reached with national hotels operator The Publican Group to refurbish and operate the venue.

The Publican Group owns five other venues in Perth; The Aviary, Wolf Lane, The Byrneleigh, The George and Public House.

However, The Byrneleigh was listed for sale in September this year.

The council did approve changes to the planning approval issued earlier this year for the restoration of the hotel, relating to the first floor of the building, the installation of a retractable roof outside and increasing the size of its beer garden.

The modifications to the first floor involved restoring only a small portion of it with office and storage area, with the remainder to be left as a void.

The City of Swan also granted a six-month extension to the planning approval, which was set to expire on January 30 next year.

The owners now have until July 30 next year to begin the restoration.