Butler-serviced North Bank hotel planned for unloved corner of CBD

BUTLER service, hotel rooms that cost more than the average Melbourne house to build — Melbourne’s luxury accommodation market is about to go up a notch in the North Bank precinct.

THREE towers containing apartments and luxury hotel rooms is set to transform the North Bank of the Yarra by 2022.

The $1 billion Flinders Bank development will feature a St Regis Hotel — the first in Australia — and 650 apartments across the three buildings at the corner of Flinders and Spencer streets.

Butlers will service each of the 168 prestige hotel rooms, which will cost as much as $1 million each to build. The rooms will include a range of specialty suites for VIPs.

City councillors are expected to give the plan qualified support at a meeting on Tuesday before the application is referred to the planning department.

A council report raised concerns about overshadowing of the Yarra during midwinter.

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St Regis, part of the Marriott group, has luxury hotels in Bora Bora, Mauritius and Florence.

The Melbourne site, which overlooks the Yarra towards Crown casino, was bought for $97 million, with plans by Chinese-backed developer Century Group Aus first lodging four years ago.

Room at the St Regis Hotel planned for North Bank, Melbourne. Picture: Supplied

The St Regis hotel would occupy floors two to 11 in the 33-storey tower on the north side of the site, formerly the location of the Melbourne Convention Centre. The other buildings would be 27 storeys each.

If approved, construction on the Fender Katsalidis-designed development is expected to start next year. Century Group Aus has already put the apartments on the market.

Artist's impression of the Flinders Bank development by Century Group Aus.

Spencer St view of the Flinders Bank development.

In July, the developer amended its application to include 20 affordable homes for “key workers”.

Council officers supported the addition social housing but have concerns about the buildings casting a shadow over the Yarra.

“The additional overshadowing of the Yarra River corridor is a poor outcome,’’ the report says.

The luxury St Regis Hotel planned for Melbourne’s CBD on the site of the former Melbourne Convention Centre. Picture: Supplied

“While the provision of affordable housing is supported by planning policy and legislation, it is not to be ‘traded off’ for poor outcomes such as additional overshadowing of significant urban features.’’

Marriott regional senior director Richard Crawford said demand for luxury hotels in

Melbourne was strong.

The triple towers development (left foreground) will dominate the Yarra skyline. Picture: Supplied

“This signing is an indication of the investment community’s confidence in the Australian

market, where we are seeing a growing demand for premium lodgings,” he said.

The hotel would feature a 25m pool, gym, beauty salon, wine room as well as restaurants and bars.

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