Kent Town six-star hotel proposal loses major project status
The Palazzo Versace, Gold Coast, is one of Australia's few hotels listed as six-star.
Urban Construct plans to build a six-star hotel development in Kent Town.
A plan to build Adelaide's first ever six-star hotel has suffered a setback with the development losing its major project status. Urban Construct's planned $120 million hotel and apartment complex in Kent Town would become Adelaide's first six-star hotel including a mix of penthouse apartments, shops and cafes.
The complex would join hotel's like Gold Coast's Palazzo Versace (pictured) as one of Australia's few six-star venues.
The Kent Town project had its major project status revoked on June 27 after failing to convince the State Government it still warranted the special planning status.
Currently only two hotels in Adelaide - the Rendezvous Hotel on Waymouth St, and the Sebel Playford on North Tce - have a five-star rating and tourism leaders have called for more luxury accommodation to lure people to the state.
Despite being stripped of major project status, Urban Construct chief executive Todd Brown said the Kent Town project would go ahead.
"I can inform you that Urban Construct Group along with Marshall and Brougham will be going ahead with the development at the corner of Dequetteville Tce and Rundle St despite the loss of major project status," Mr Brown said in response to the Eastern Courier Messenger's questions.
In January, the Eastern Courier Messenger reported Urban Construct was yet to draw up detailed designs for the complex.
It was previously reported construction would start in mid-2012 and would become Adelaide's first six-star hotel.
Also losing major project status was a planned $300m hotel development in Wayville. Developer, Sam Sgherza Group, did not respond to the Eastern Courier Messenger's requests for comment.
Planning Minister John Rau wrote to both businesses in March to request information on why the major project status should not be revoked.
"I am mindful that in cases where these project approvals have been sitting there for some time not being progressed, they have a potential dampening effect on other development prospects in the vicinity," Mr Rau said.
"I wrote to proponents and, after giving them an opportunity to put any information before me for my consideration, I have decided that major project status in these cases should be revoked."
Source: News.com.au, 13 July 2012
