Scarborough is about to get a lot taller. State planners have approved a 27-storey apartment building at 200 West Coast Highway, and it is aimed squarely at renters. The $130 million project sits just 250 metres from the beach and will stand seven floors higher than the Rendezvous Hotel across the road.
The approval was handed down by the Statutory Planning Committee in late September 2026. It adds to a growing list of high-rise projects clustered around the Scarborough beachfront. For anyone who owns, rents or invests in the area, it is a decision worth understanding properly.
This guide breaks down what was approved, why it was controversial and what it could mean for the local property market. We have kept the numbers front and centre so you can see exactly what is going on.
The Tide at a Glance: What Was Approved
The new building will keep the name The Tide. At the moment, The Tide is a three-storey co-living complex. It will be replaced by a 27-storey tower featuring 246 apartments, most of them one-bedroom.
The project is a build-to-rent development. That means the developer keeps ownership of every apartment and offers them for long-term lease, rather than selling them off to individual buyers.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 West Coast Highway |
| Estimated cost | $130 million |
| Height | 27 storeys |
| Distance to beach | About 250 metres |
| Total apartments | 246 (mostly one-bedroom) |
| Affordable housing | 37 apartments |
| Ground floor | Shop, office space and a pocket park |
| Developer | Meadpoint (Singapore-based) |
| Public art contribution | About $900,000 |
| Green Star rating | 5-star Green Star Design |
Meadpoint will own and manage the building, so tenants will deal with one landlord for the life of the lease. Affordable housing will be run by a community housing provider, which the developer says is based on the east coast.
How Tall Is 27 Storeys in Scarborough?
To put the height in context, the Rendezvous Hotel is the benchmark many locals use. The Tide will rise seven floors above it. Once built, it could become the tallest building in Scarborough, depending on whether stalled projects ever proceed.
How Planning Rules Shape Scarborough Development
The rules for the Scarborough beachfront allow buildings of up to 12 storeys as standard. Developments that demonstrate design excellence and deliver a wider community benefit can access a bonus height, up to a maximum of 18 storeys.
The Tide goes well beyond both limits. The building is 26.5 metres higher than the bonus height provisions allow. Its four-level podium is also taller and covers more of the site than the planning rules permit.
The Bonus Height Criteria
Three main criteria apply to bonus height in this part of Scarborough. The developer argued it met each of them.
| Bonus criterion | What Meadpoint says it delivers |
|---|---|
| Design excellence | Backed by the State Design Review Panel |
| Green Star rating | 5-star Green Star Design rating |
| 15 per cent affordable housing | 37 of 246 apartments |
The State Design Review Panel supported the plans. It pointed to the pinwheel tower configuration, the curved facade, the building setbacks and the visual separation between the tower and the podium as positives.
Why the Committee Said Yes
The committee report concluded that the extra height was acceptable. It pointed to the area’s “ongoing and strategic objectives for increased density and redevelopment”. Any remaining issues, it said, could be managed through conditions of approval.
Committee member Sean Morrison backed the decision. He said it had been clear for decades that Scarborough was intended to accommodate major development investment. In his view, sites in the suburb were not being developed as envisaged, and the discretion was warranted given the high standard of the design.
The Scarborough High-Rise Pipeline
The Tide is not the only tower to gain approval. Six developments within 700 metres of Scarborough Beach Road have now been approved for heights above 12 storeys. Three of those are taller than 18 storeys.
| Project | Height | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The Tide, 200 West Coast Highway | 27 storeys | Approved September 2026 |
| Adjoining northern lot | 24 storeys | Approved |
| Corner of West Coast Highway and Scarborough Beach Road (3 Oceans) | 43 storeys | Approved, then plans abandoned |
| Former White Sands Tavern site (Woolworths Group) | Up to 29 storeys | Approved 2021, not yet developed |
Approved Is Not the Same as Built
This is the most important point for anyone watching Scarborough. The two tallest approvals have stalled. The 3 Oceans site controversially received approval for a record 43 storeys, and the Chinese company later abandoned its plans.
The former White Sands Tavern site has also sat idle, even though Woolworths Group secured approval for up to 29 storeys back in 2021. Approvals show intent, but they do not guarantee cranes on the skyline.
That gap between approval and construction is exactly why Meadpoint’s argument about feasibility matters.
Why the Developer Says the Height Is Needed
Meadpoint founder Larry Sperling told the committee that construction material costs and a shortage of WA builders meant the height and scale were needed to make the project “feasible”. In plain terms, the numbers do not stack up at a lower height.
This is a pattern across Perth. Building costs have been a major hurdle for new apartment projects, and many sites have struggled to move from approval to construction. More apartments on the same block of land spread the fixed costs of the build.
Whether that argument justifies going more than double the standard height is the heart of the debate. The planning committee agreed. The local council did not.
The Case Against: Community and Council Objections
The proposal drew strong opposition. Of the 226 public submissions received, two-thirds objected. Their concerns centred on the following issues:
- Building height
- Traffic and parking
- Impact on views
- The design itself
- Infrastructure capacity
- A perceived lack of community benefit
What the City of Stirling Said
The City of Stirling also opposed the proposal. Its objections covered height, a shortfall in visitor parking, commercial delivery and servicing, waste collection and engineering matters.
The city argued that a building more than double the height limit was inconsistent with the Scarborough design guidelines. It also said the project would harm the amenity of the area and that the pocket park would be unlikely to be used by the public.
The city noted that the application had been refused in December 2023. In its view, the plans had not changed enough since then to justify approval. It also said the approval conditions would not do enough to reduce the impacts and should have been resolved before a decision was made.
The committee report acknowledged both the city’s and the public’s concerns. It still deemed the project a high-quality development that delivers public benefits. Conditions will require a lighting strategy to enhance the building’s “architectural expression”, along with changes to landscaping and building finishes.
Parking in Scarborough: The Big Sticking Point
Parking is a perennial topic in Scarborough, particularly during summer. The Tide proposes fewer bays than the planning framework requires, and this became one of the most contested parts of the application.
| Parking type | Bays provided |
|---|---|
| Resident bays | 187 |
| Visitor bays | 33 |
| Commercial bays | 2 |
| Total | 222 |
| Shortfall against requirements | 15 bays |
The City of Stirling said the developer was providing just over half of the required visitor bays. It warned this would add to already high parking demand in the area.
The Developer’s Parking Argument
Meadpoint says the shortfall is suitable because of the site’s connection to public transport and cycling paths. Mr Sperling said the company had operated on the site since 2018 using a similar parking model. He believes tenants will mostly rely on public transport.
His philosophy is simple: “A tenant should only pay for what they use.” Residents will be able to choose whether or not to lease a parking bay.
Visitors without a prior booking could park subject to availability. Otherwise, they would be directed to nearby public parking, such as the paid multi-storey beachfront carpark.
For Scarborough locals, the real test will be how this plays out on a hot Saturday in January.
What Build-to-Rent Means for Scarborough Renters
The Tide is designed to ease high demand for rentals. Perth tenants have faced tight conditions for some time, and the beach, cafes and entertainment precinct make Scarborough a drawcard for people who want to rent close to the coast.
Build-to-rent apartments are different from the traditional investor-owned unit down the road. A single owner manages the whole building, which usually means consistent management standards and long-term leases.
Affordable Housing in the Mix
Thirty-seven of the 246 apartments will be set aside as affordable housing. That is 15 per cent of the total, the threshold needed to qualify for bonus height. Affordable apartments are intended for households that may otherwise be priced out of a beachside suburb.
Who Is Likely to Rent at The Tide?
With most apartments being one-bedroom, the building is likely to appeal to singles and couples. Think hospitality workers, young professionals and downsizers who want to be near the water without the commitment of buying. Proximity to the beachfront and public transport will be a major selling point.
What the Approval Could Mean for Scarborough Property Owners
For owners of homes and units in Scarborough, a 27-storey tower prompts some natural questions. Will it change values? Will it affect views? Will more supply push rents down?
The honest answer is that it depends on your property, its location and how many of the approved towers are actually built. Here is how we see the main factors.
| Factor | Possible effect on nearby owners |
|---|---|
| New rental supply | May ease rental pressure over time if projects proceed |
| Population growth | More residents can support local shops, cafes and services |
| Views and amenity | Properties close to the site may see changes |
| Traffic and parking | Possible added pressure around the beachfront |
| Redevelopment appetite | Signals ongoing interest in the area from developers |
Redevelopment Potential
Approvals like this one signal that the planning framework is open to density near the beachfront. For some owners, particularly those with larger lots, that may increase redevelopment interest. For others, it may be a reminder to review how close the property sits to future towers.
What It Means for Investors
Investors will be watching The Tide closely. A large build-to-rent operator entering the Scarborough market adds a new kind of competitor for private landlords. At the same time, more people living near the beach tends to support demand for services and hospitality.
Landlords with older apartments should think about presentation and pricing. New, professionally managed buildings can set a high bar for tenant expectations. Keeping your property well maintained is the simplest way to stay competitive.
The Fine Print: Planning Control Area and Conditions
One more detail worth knowing. The Tide’s frontage forms part of a Planning Control Area. That means the proposed crossover, landscaping and awnings will have to be removed if the land is ever needed to widen West Coast Highway.
This is a reminder that West Coast Highway remains a key road corridor. Any future widening could change the streetscape in front of The Tide and neighbouring sites.
The developer is also required to provide public art to a value of about $900,000. That should add a visible cultural element to the Scarborough streetscape.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Scarborough Tower
How tall is the new Scarborough tower?
The Tide will be 27 storeys, which is seven floors higher than the Rendezvous Hotel. It is 26.5 metres above the bonus height limit that applies in the area.
Will the Scarborough tower be apartments for sale?
No. It is a build-to-rent project, so the developer will keep ownership of all 246 apartments and lease them to tenants on a long-term basis.
Is the tower definitely going to be built?
Approval is a major step, but it does not guarantee construction. Two of the tallest approvals in the area have stalled, so timing will depend on the developer’s ability to make the project stack up.
How many affordable apartments are included?
Thirty-seven apartments, or 15 per cent of the total, will be provided as affordable housing.
Key Takeaways
The Tide is a landmark approval for the beachfront. It shows how the state planning system is leaning towards density in coastal Perth, even when councils and residents push back.
If you own, rent or invest in this part of the city, keep an eye on how many of the approved projects actually move into construction. That will shape the suburb far more than the approvals alone.
Thinking About Buying or Selling Near the Beach?
Whether you own a home in Scarborough or are weighing up a purchase, a major approval like The Tide is a good prompt to check where your property stands. The team at Holdsworth Real Estate can provide a current appraisal and talk you through how nearby development may affect your position. Contact Holdsworth Real Estate today to start the conversation.
