A $130 million, 27-storey apartment development has received planning approval at 200 West Coast Highway, Scarborough, becoming one of several high-rise projects approved near the beachfront.

The development, proposed by Singapore-based company Meadpoint, will replace the existing three-storey The Tide co-living complex, approximately 250 metres from Scarborough Beach.

The new building will retain The Tide name and comprise 246 predominantly one-bedroom apartments, including 37 affordable rental dwellings.

The development will operate under a build-to-rent model, with Meadpoint retaining ownership and management of the apartments rather than selling them individually.

Plans also include a ground-floor retail tenancy, office accommodation and a publicly accessible pocket park.

The proposal attracted considerable opposition because of its height, with existing planning controls generally allowing buildings of up to 12 storeys, or 18 storeys where additional design and community benefits are demonstrated.

At 27 storeys, the proposed tower exceeds the maximum bonus height by approximately 26.5 metres. Its four-storey podium also exceeds planning provisions and covers 87 per cent of the site, compared with the prescribed maximum of 80 per cent.

Of the 226 public submissions received, approximately two-thirds opposed the development, raising concerns about traffic, parking, building height, loss of views, infrastructure capacity and the perceived lack of community benefits.

The City of Stirling also opposed the proposal, citing its excessive height, insufficient visitor parking and unresolved servicing, waste collection and engineering concerns.

Meadpoint founder Larry Sperling argued that rising construction costs and shortages of available builders in Western Australia meant the additional height was necessary to make the project financially viable.

The State Design Review Panel supported the architectural design, identifying positive features including the tower's pinwheel configuration, curved facade, generous setbacks and separation between the podium and upper floors.

The developer also identified the provision of affordable rental housing, additional accommodation, a five-star Green Star Design rating and public open space as benefits supporting the additional height.

Meadpoint will also be required to provide approximately $900,000 worth of public artwork.

The Statutory Planning Committee subsequently approved the development, with committee member Sean Morrison supporting the use of planning discretion because of the building's design quality.

The approval adds to a growing number of high-rise proposals around Scarborough Beach. Six developments within approximately 700 metres of Scarborough Beach Road have received approval to exceed 12 storeys, including three above the 18-storey bonus limit.

However, several previously approved projects have not progressed to construction.

These include the 43-storey development approved for the 3 Oceans site at the corner of West Coast Highway and Scarborough Beach Road, which was subsequently abandoned, and the former White Sands Tavern site, where Woolworths Group received approval for a development of up to 29 storeys in 2021.

A separate 24-storey residential development has also been approved on the adjoining northern property.

If constructed ahead of the other approved high-rise projects, The Tide could become the tallest completed building in the Scarborough beachfront precinct.