The $200 million proposal has been given the green light by the state’s peak planning body.

Blackburne’s plan to build a two-tower $200 million apartment development in City Beach has been given the green light by planning authorities.

The Western Australian Planning Commission this afternoon approved the project, in Emma Cole’s first meeting as WAPC chair, in a session that lasted three hours.

The development comprises of 247 dwellings across a 10 and 22-storey building, a new playground, a boutique supermarket, cafes, restaurants, retail and green space.

The plan drew widespread attention from the community, with residents voicing concerns over the scale of the project, which will sit on the former Ocean Village Shopping Centre site.

But Blackburne says it has already attracted “overwhelming interest from the community” in the apartments, with over 500 people registering their interest in the project.

Blackburne welcomed the approval, and said the development would breathe new life into City Beach.

“The development will also open to the neighbouring park, preserving the mature tuart trees and providing enhanced spaces for the community to gather,” a Blackburne spokesperson said.

“The new apartments will be some of our highest quality yet.”

“They are specifically designed for owner-occupiers who are looking for new housing options, offering resort style living and uninterrupted ocean views, whilst remaining in the suburb they know and love.”

Blackburne is one of the state’s largest apartment developers, and has recently completed The Grove in Claremont, and is set to build its second apartment project in Karrinyup this year.

WAPC chair Emma Cole said there had been an incredible response from the community with almost 1,500 submissions received during the public comment period.

Ms Cole acknowledged the tension in the room, saying there had been strong views presented from those opposed and in support of the project.

“There had been significant consultation, and [the proposal] went through 11 government agencies,” she said.

“In context of the local planning strategy… we need to take into consideration where density does go in your community.

“Because of this context, the building has been able to achieve acceptable outcomes… to visual privacy in terms of overlooking and overshadowing.”

Ms Cole said there had been a universal view that the dilapidated shopping centre on site was not meeting its purpose.