Businessman John Gillett has proposed to build a single home with a vintage car basement garage on one of the lots on the former Taj on Swan site.
Businessman John Gillett has proposed to build a single home with a vintage car basement garage on one of the lots on the former Taj on Swan site.
The Shire of Peppermint Grove council will consider Mr Gillett and Jocelyn Gillett’s proposal to build on 1 Bungalow Court at its upcoming meeting.
The 890 square metre lot, named Lot 4, is part of the site formerly earmarked for a high-profile mansion project known as Taj on Swan.
A development application for Lot 4 was lodged in December last year but had been significantly modified on three occasions, according to the council agenda.
Modifications include reduction of the basement level to ensure the ceiling is below natural ground, reduction of the vintage car garage, modification of the driveway ramp, screening for the pool alfresco area, and inclusion of a letterbox.
The proposed house includes turning circles in the basement garage and a car lift.
Shire of Peppermint Grove officers recommended that the council approve the single house proposal despite some inconsistencies with planning schemes.
“The subject site has a unique frontage with Bungalow Court that effectively functions as a battleaxe leg,” the council agenda said.
“The prevailing streetscape is R25 coded residences with limited building setbacks and greater site coverage that [is] typical for single houses in Peppermint Grove.
“Given the unusual site context, approval will not establish an undesirable precedent.
“Local planning policies are not deemed to be a law or statute and must not be applied inflexibly.”
The Gilletts also owned 12 Bungalow Court, behind the Taj on Swan site.
History
Burrup Holdings, now operating as Yara Pilbara Holdings, co-founder Pankaj Oswal and his wife Radhika planned to build a $70 million six-bedroom home including 17-bay carpark and observatory with revolving roof on the site.
The Oswals reportedly bought the 6,582 square metre Peppermint Grove site for $22.7 million in 2007.
Construction stopped in 2010 when the Oswals left the country amid legal and financial disputes with ANZ and Australian Tax Office, which have since been settled.
Mr Gillett bought the Taj on Swan site for $17 million in 2018 and received approval to subdivide the land in 2019.
The Taj on Swan site was subdivided into seven lots, with two undergoing construction, including a two-storey home.
The shire council last year approved a two-storey house with a basement and pool to be built on another lot in the Taj on Swan site, on 42 Keane Street.
Simone Anagnostakis bought the Keane Street lot for $4.1 million in September 2021, according to REIWA.
According to the council agenda, 42 Keane Street is on the market with development approval for a single house.
