A two-storey home with a basement and swimming pool is the latest development approved to be built on the former Taj on Swan site.
A two-storey home with a basement and swimming pool is the latest development approved to be built on the former Taj on Swan site.
The Shire of Peppermint Grove council unanimously approved owner Simone Anagnostakis’ proposal to build the house on an 890 square metres lot at the corner of Keane Street and Bay View Terrace, at its meeting on Tuesday.
The council previously knocked back the application and asked the applicant, Applecross-based designer leonhouse on behalf of the owner, to lodge revised plans.
The Peppermint Grove site has a high-profile history as former owners of fertiliser business Burrup Holdings, now operating as Yara Pilbara Holdings, Pankaj and Radhika Oswal planned to build a $70 million six-bedroom home including 17-bay carpark and observatory with revolving roof dubbed ‘Taj on Swan’.
According to realestate.com.au, the Oswals bought the 6,582 square metres site for $22.7 million in 2007.
Construction stopped in 2010 after the Oswals left the country amid legal and financial disputes with ANZ and the Australian Taxation Office, which have since been settled.
The shire won the right to demolish the derelict building in 2016 and the site was put on the market as one whole block or as six individual lots in 2018.
Businessman John Gillett bought the whole lot for $17 million in 2018 but received approval from the WA Planning Commission to subdivide in 2019.
The lot owned by the Anagnostakis was sold for $4.1 million around September last year, according to REIWA.
In its February meeting, the council approved with conditions an application for a single-storey house with an attic, including two bedrooms and ensuites on the roof-space, on the adjoining lot.
The council knocked back the Anagnostakis’ proposal at its meeting last month, due to neighbours’ concerns of privacy and overshadowing.
According to a report by the shire’s planning officer, the applicant has now complied with all required modifications.
“Balconies are now screened where required and sufficiently setback from side boundaries to satisfied deemed-to-comply requirements for visual privacy,” the report said.
“The roof is concealed and is not accessible.
Conditions attached to the approval include the development to start within two years and all works to be completed in three years.
The council also allowed a reduced rear lot boundary setback based on design principles.
The proposed house has been described as having a contemporary design inspired by Iwan Iwanoff, with an intention to capture natural light.
The value of the proposed development is yet to be disclosed.
