Iris has achieved approval for big plans to transform the landmark Kingswood Hotel into a mixed-use site for a new iteration of the pub, and more than 100 apartments.
Iris Capital purchased the former Milestone Hotel, built in 1953, in late 2018 from former ILG chief Neville Blair.
Located directly opposite Kingswood Railway Station, at a major intersection, it is proximate to institutional facilities including Nepean Hospital, Western Sydney University and Kingswood TAFE.
Sam Arnaout’s group lodged plans with Penrith City Council at the end of 2021 for a complete redevelopment, projected to cost close to $70 million.
The project sought to demolish the pub and rebuild it plus units, across its current site at 180 Great Western Highway plus a vacant block at 26 Rodgers Street.
Well versed in pub developments, Iris offered it intended to provide a mixed-use hotel development offering a high level of occupant amenities and incorporating an active pedestrian interface. The plans were suggested to demonstrate “design excellence”, representing a development that is “a unique opportunity for the holistic redevelopment of a significant landholding”.
At the end of June Penrith Council approved the application, stipulating in its determination that the sites were to include four car wash bays and 67 bicycle and motorcycle spaces.
Construction will take place over two stages, beginning with creation of a five-storey building on Rodgers Street. This will come to house a temporary version of the pub, along with 54 residential apartments and a bottleshop at street level, over two levels of basement parking.
After the first stage has been completed the current Hotel building will be demolished. In its place will come an eight-storey building with the pub on the ground floor, above three levels of parking and below 79 apartments and a rooftop common space.
PubTIC was unable to get further comment from Iris on the plans prior to publication.
