Planning in the works for a long overdue $85 million new hotel in Cowes

A planning permit application for the construction a new $85 million, 163-room residential hotel, at 9-11 The Esplanade, Cowes (near Phillip Island in Victoria) will be tabled at the Bass Coast Shire Council meeting on Wednesday.

If approved, the hotel will be built on the site of the old Isle of Wight Hotel, whch was once owned by tennis legend Frank Sedgman. 

The hotel burnt down in May 2010. 

The new project will be built with 50 rooms for worker accommodation that addresses the issue of attracting housing staff in the hospitality sector.

The residential hotel will feature hotel suites, function rooms/centre, restaurant, swimming pool and swim-up pool bar, there will also be a traditional hotel with public bar, bistro, restaurant and beer garden.

Four retail shops, a wellness centre and gym will also be included. 

Developers will also seek to use the carpark for outdoor music and entertainment events.

A new hotel is a long-awaited project for the area, however there are carpark concerns: parking requirement at peak times is 1132 (normally 748) of 935 spaces.

One further issue is height. 

“Whilst at 27.58 metres, the hotel building component exceeds the 23-metre preferred height limit it still is within the 7-storey preference. Furthermore, the development is substantially lower for the remainder of the site, with the main pavilion building with the pool terrace only 2 storeys in height across more than two thirds of the width of the northern frontage,” Bass Coast Shire stated in its report. 

“The application has been assessed against the Bass Coast Planning Scheme and whilst a significant reduction in car parking is sought, is considered to provide an overall net community benefit. This is achieved through the economic outcomes flowing through from additional visitors, employment, worker accommodation and upgrades to the public realm.”

The council will look to save the iconic Moreton Bay Fig tree at the front of the site.

Jonathan Jackson, 19^th September 2023