No start date for work on Peregrine Corporation’s new Kensington offices, a year after fast-tracked approval

PETROL giant On The Run is yet to set a start date for work on a $50 million, seven-storey redevelopment of its Kensington head office, almost 12 months after the project won approval.

Peregrine Corporation’s proposed new head office in Kensington. Source: MPH Architects

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PETROL giant On The Run is yet to set a start date for work on a $50 million, seven-storey redevelopment of its Kensington head office, almost 12 months after the project won approval.

Peregrine Corporation — the parent company of On The Run — was given State Government approval in May 2017 to redevelop its headquarters on the corner of The Parade and Portrush Rd, with work expected to start soon after.

However, a Peregrine spokeswoman told the Eastern Courier Messenger last week that a start date for construction had not been set.

She would not say why there had been such a lengthy delay in starting work.

Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Mayor Robert Bria was also in the dark as to Peregrine’s plans for the site.

“I do think it is in the community’s interest to have an idea about the time frame so that residents and traders who will be affected by the development get a sense of how their daily routines will be impacted,” Mr Bria said.

“The council has no say when the development will start as it is completely up to Peregrine.”

He said a lack of carparks — 223 for the 450 people expected to work at the redeveloped headquarters — remained an issue.

“Peregrine need to make a genuine attempt to find carparking provisions for the construction workers, as well as the ongoing workforce when it is completed,” Mr Bria said.

“Without a concerted effort to do that, the problems of parking and traffic around that intersection are going to be really sticky for a long time.”

Kensington Residents’ Association secretary Andrew Dyson said residents needed some certainty around the rebuild, particularly as many were considering selling their homes due to the scale of the proposed building.

“Residents are very concerned about what is going to happen and are considering their future, especially those in Bowen St opposite it,” Mr Dyson said.

“It is completely going to overshadow the residents across the road and dominate the intersection.”

Speaking when the application was approved, Peregrine Corporation executive chairman Yasser Shahin said work would start “almost immediately” and be finished within two years.

The development was set to include a ground-floor cafe, five levels of offices, a 50m indoor pool and a gym.

Under the approval guidelines outlined by the State Government, the company had three years to start construction and a further six years to complete the project.

If the project was not completed in those time frames, the government could withdraw development approval.

The former Labor government listed the project of economic significance to the state and was assessed directly by then-Trade and Investment Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith, before getting the final tick of approval from Governor Hieu Van Le.

A spokesperson for Peregrine today said: “Peregrine Corporation were mindful of starting a third development while two apartment developments were already under construction on the Northern end of the Parade.

“Car parking and construction of three major developments would have largely affected surrounding residences and businesses.”