Hotel Makes Way for 133-Apartment Kingswood Project

Plans have been lodged for a mixed-use development in Kingswood that would deliver 133 apartments—and two pubs.

The Kingswood Hotel at Penrith in Greater Western Sydney would be demolished to make way for the dual-tower development at 180 Great Western Highway and 26 Rodgers Street under the proposal.

The two sites of 1940sq m and 1828sq m respectively are opposite the Kingswood Railway Station.

Developer vehicle Kingswood Hotel Property Pty Ltd is associated with Wassim (Sam) Arnaout, hotelier and chief executive of Iris Capital who made the Australian Financial Review’s rich list last year with an estimated $1.89 billion net worth.

The two-stage project is being designed by architects Squillace, and offers an “opportunity for the holistic redevelopment of a significant landholding”.

The developers are aiming to offer a high level of amenity for future occupants and residential accommodation to support urban growth, according to their application to Penrith City Council.

Stage one will deliver a five-storey mixed-use development with basement carparking and 54 apartments with a communal garden. 

Stage two will have a three-floor basement carpark with 79 apartments in a mix of one to three bedroom units. It will also consist of a pub with a lounge and hotel with primary frontage to Great Western Highway and wrapping around the site to Bringelly Road.

Construction will cost an estimated $68 million.

Kingswood is one of the oldest suburbs in Penrith and services a campus for Western Sydney University as well as TAFE. 

But Kingswood’s commercial core “has experienced long-standing negative perceptions relating to community safety and public amenity”, according to the development application.

The new development will provide vibrancy to the area and activation of the ground floor for commercial and retail tenancies, which it says will aid in the development of a safer locality.

Iris Capital is a prolific developer across NSW, this year launching a $160 million project for Newcastle, as well as a Potts Point masterplan.