Development plans for Sydney's north shore scaled back after outcry

The maximum height of new towers and the number of apartments planned over the next two decades for a part of Sydney's north shore have been scaled back from earlier plans, after community concerns about overdevelopment.

The NSW government has cut the allowable building heights at five sites in St Leonards and Crows Nest by between 13 and 23 storeys. The tallest buildings permitted – on a site abutting the Pacific Highway – has been capped at 42 storeys, down from 61.

A final blueprint has been released for development in St Leonards and Crows Nest over the next two decades.Credit: Airphoto Australia

The final blueprint for St Leonards and Crows Nest has also reduced the number of dwellings earmarked to be built by 2036 to 6683, from 7500 earlier.

The government has also committed to 8.5 hectares of extra parkland, which will be partly funded by an increase in developer contributions.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

Part of the extra open space will be created by converting the Holtermann Street car park in the centre of Crows Nest into a 1700-square-metre parkland. A car park will be built under the park.

The draft St Leonards Crows Nest 2036 plan, released almost two years ago, sparked widespread concerns about the extent of development.

But NSW Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said major changes had been made to the final plan to ensure the suburbs would be a greener employment hub with better transport and pedestrian links.

"The community told us they wanted more green space that enhanced local neighbourhoods and a plan that provided certainty on what future development will look like and where it will be," he said.

Two other areas on the Pacific Highway have had their building height limits cut from 58 to 35 storeys, and from 46 to 30 floors, respectively. Another site at Atchison Street in St Leonards has also had building heights reduced from 48 to 35 storeys.

Lane Cove Council mayor Pam Palmer welcomed a reduction in the overall scale of development planned but cautioned the "devil is in the detail" of the final plan. "It is heartening that they are listening to the community. If they could increase open space in the area that would be a positive," she said.

North Sydney mayor Jilly Gibson said the government had listened to community concerns and the final blueprint was a "good result", especially the extra parkland planned for Crows Nest. "It is bereft of open space, and we are very pleased negotiations went as we hoped," she said.

The release of the final long-term plan comes after the government approved rezoning of land at Crows Nest to enable development above a new metro train station, which is under construction as part of the City and Southwest rail line between Chatswood and Bankstown via Sydney's CBD. The new rail line is due to open in 2024.

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