State Planning Commission rejects Seawall high-rise apartments again citing heritage concerns and ‘local character’

The contentious redevelopment of the Seawall Apartments site at Glenelg has been knocked back again after a more modest design was presented to the state’s planning panel.

An artist’s impression of Chasecrown’s revised design for the $160m development at 21-25 South Esplanade, Glenelg. Supplied by Chasecrown.

A planned 10-storey Glenelg apartment block previously labelled an “overbearing mass” by the state’s chief architect has been knocked back for a second time in two years.

On Wednesday, the State Commission Assessment Panel refused developer Chasecrown’s application for the South Esplanade site after it scaled down its original design from 13 storeys.

Artist's impressions of Chasecrown original $165m 13-storey apartment design at 21-25 South Esplanade, Glenelg. Picture: Chasecrown / Supplied

According to meeting minutes, planning bosses believed “the visual mass, form and height of the building would be overly prominent when viewed from adjoining allotments and public streets” and “would not contribute positively to the character of the local area”.

A spokesperson for Chasecrown said the company is “disappointed with today’s decision by the State Commission Assessment Panel and will now consider its options”.

The 72-room apartment block would have sat beside the heritage-listed Seawall Apartments lot near Mosely Square, which was partially demolished to make way for new buildings.

Chasecrown was first refused approval in July 2021 on similar grounds, but appealed in the Environment Resources and Development Court to have its submission reconsidered.

Karen DeCean with SOS (Save our Seawall) Apartments Community Group pictured at 21-25 South Esplanade, Glenelg in July, 2021. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Following backroom negotiations, the State Planning Commission agreed to let Chasecrown present a new, pared back design which the planning panel again shot down.

In February, Save our Seawall Apartments group founding member Karen DeCean told The Advertiser residents were concerned about the proposed height sitting well above the area’s default five-storey height cap.

“Everyone in the immediate vicinity is going to suffer. From the ocean to Brighton Rd is already a bottleneck … and it will really change that area quite dramatically, which is such a shame because it’s the sleepy end,” she said at the time.