Developer Chasecrown urged to release new plans for contentious Glenelg Seawall Apartments tower block after ‘agreement reached’

Developers of the proposed $165m Glenelg apartment tower have made a secret deal with the State Planning Commission - and locals are demanding to see the new plans.

The developer of a contentious $165m Glenelg apartment tower has been urged to publicly release new plans for the foreshore building.

A court has heard Chasecrown has reached a confidential agreement with the State Planning Commission after its independent assessment panel rejected an initial 13-storey tower in a five-storey zone at 21-25 South Esplanade.

Details of the new design remain suppressed amid a legal wrangle between the developers, the panel and neighbouring residents over the foreshore project’s future.

The commission’s assessment panel in July found the original 93-apartment proposal did not meet Holdfast Bay Council’s development plan, was too big and did not take into account the heritage value of the old buildings, including the existing Seawall Apartments.

Chasecrown last month appealed the refusal to the Environment Resources and Development Court. The details of the compromise were revealed during a hearing into a request by four neighbouring property owners, including the council, to join the court proceedings.

If the court rejects their participation, it leaves the door open to the new proposal being approved without community consultation.

The Glenelg Seawall apartments that would have been demolished to make way for Chasecrown’s $165 million apartment building. Picture: Supplied/Karen DeCean

Artist's impressions of Chasecrown $165m apartment development at 21-25 South Esplanade, Glenelg. Supplied: Chasecrown

Howard Zelling Chambers’ David Billington, acting for resident Peter Moloney, told the court the panel had made a decision on a “settlement offer on an amended design”.

“None of us have seen that and clearly that’s going to inform our position as to whether we seek to maintain our involvement in this matter,” according to a court transcript of the September 3 hearing.

“It would seem to be a critical thing to distribute to the parties.”

Norman Waterhouse’s Gavin Leydon, acting for two neighbours to the Seawall site, also wanted a copy of the design.

“We do understand that SCAP has essentially accepted the amended plans as a proposed settlement, the details of which we have no knowledge,” he told the court.

Stuart Henry QC, acting for Chasecrown, confirmed there was a settlement “in the wings”.

He agreed to release designs to opposing legal counsel on the terms it would not be “shown to The Advertiser … or anything like that”.

Save our Seawall Apartments founding member Karen DeCean, has called for public release of the designs.

Holdfast Bay Mayor Amanda Wilson said the council would be opposing any “tokenistic compromise” that did not resolve the council’s concerns about the building’s height.

The State Commission Assessment Panel declined to comment further as the matter was before the court.

A Chasecrown spokesman said it would not be appropriate to comment on the matter while it was before the court.

“Chasecrown will continue to respect the ERD court process,” they said.

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