A major transformation of Sydney’s Coogee Bay Hotel has been given the green light by the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel following more than four years of design, planning and discussions with council and community.
Last week, the panel granted a Deferred Commencement Consent, which will allow works to begin once there has been resolution of a noise management plan with Randwick City Council.
The Panel approved the redevelopment following major changes to the original development application lodged in July 2021, which included an improvement of bulk and scale, a reduction in height, removal of a proposed supermarket, improvement of urban form and amenity, and reduced view loss.
The result follows extensive discussions with stakeholders, community consultation and mediation between the owners of the Coogee Bay Hotel and Randwick City Council, which began in 2019.
“We are happy to be finally moving forward and excited to deliver a renewed Coogee Bay Hotel that will reinvigorate the Precinct,” said Coogee Bay Hotel Managing Director, Chris Cheung.
“This significant 8500 square metre site is in the heart of Coogee, provides a gateway to the ocean front, and offers excellent access to services and public transport.
“As members of the community for the past 30 years, we understand the local environment and believe our plans will better integrate the hotel within the community and reinvigorate the entire site.”
The redevelopment aims to enhance the heritage elements of the hotel building, upgrade its accommodation offering, create a wider range of entertainment, dining options and public meeting spaces, and provide a more family friendly environment, according to Cheung.
“Re-casting the Coogee Bay Hotel as a more family friendly place will improve social outcomes, add value to local business, boost the local economy and complement the character of the local area,” said Cheung.
The approval includes the demolition of buildings and works to the Coogee Bay Hotel including a refurbishment to provide 18 hotel rooms, a new three storey building to the southern side of the property with 13 new hotel rooms (resulting in a total of 31 hotel rooms), construction of five/six storey housing comprising 58 dwellings, 11 retail premises, internal laneway from Coogee Bay Road, basement parking for 158 cars, subdivision, landscaping and associated works.