Novotel Norwest sold in off-market deal, plans for high-rise hotel still on cards

THE Novotel at Norwest has been sold in an off-market deal including plans for a 23-storey slimline hotel and convention centre on the grounds of the hotel next to the existing building.

Leffler Simes Architects have designed a new 23-storey hotel with a ground floor convention centre for the Novotel site.

THE Novotel at Norwest has been sold in an off-market deal.

The hotel in Columbia Court, Baulkham Hills, was snapped up on September 8, last year, for an undisclosed amount, according to RP Data reports.

Sources revealed to the Hills Shire Times the property was sold off-the-market. The purchaser is not known.

It is understood the previous owner, Shahzad Khan, had plans to continue to own the property until at least 2022 until an offer was made.

Shahzad Khan at the Roundtable for Norwest Esplanade.

Mr Khan, who had owned the property since December 1998, paying $4 million, told the Times he was not at liberty to answer questions surrounding the sale because he was under a confidential agreement.

But last June, Mr Khan revealed plans for a 23-storey slimline hotel and convention centre on the grounds of the hotel next to the existing building, claiming the high-rise tower would be an iconic landmark for the Hills.

“The high-rise hotel and convention centre can still be on the cards,” Mr Khan said.

“I agreed with the new owner that the intellectual property that I have worked on is included in the sale.”

The new 23-storey hotel would include a ground floor convention centre.

He said the designs and work to develop a business case for the towers “weren’t just a pretty picture”.

“I showed those plans to the new owner and they said it was an impressive design for an under-utilised site,” he said.

“A convention centre in the Hills is a missing link, there is nothing in the Hills that offers a 500-seat auditorium space.

“Something is needed between Novotel’s current capacity and the Hillsong Convention Centre.”

The new hotel would include a grand ballroom that can seat 550 people and a level two featuring cafes, spas and retail. Level three will feature a roof top garden over part of the area and the start of the residential tower building.

It is understood the Novotel and Accor Hotels Group holds a 10-year lease over the property.

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne said the Novotel provides “much-needed accommodation to those visiting The Hills either for business or for pleasure”.

“Our events program at Bella Vista Farm resulted in an increase in overnight stays from visitors outside The Hills, which is great for our local economy and for our local businesses,” Cr Byrne said.

“At the end of 2017, we had 38,500 international visitors stay overnight in The Hills — a 30.9 per cent increase on the previous year’s stats.

“We also had another 582,000 domestic day visitors make their way to our region. These numbers further cementing the Sydney Hills as a great place to live, grow and raise a family, as well as a great destination to explore.”

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Cr Byrne said if the Norwest Business Park is to continue to being world class, than it needs to be supported by short-term stay accommodation like the Novotel.

“It would be disappointing to see the hotel disappear and be replaced with more high-rise buildings,” she said.

“There is a real need for more hotels in The Hills and not less of them.”