Collaroy, Hay St: Developer wins over-55’s apartment block court stoush

A developer has won a court victory to modify plans for a seniors’ living apartment block in the backstreets of the northern beaches that had attracted a mountain of public complaints.

An artist's impression of a seniors living development, with 10 units, to be built in Hay St, Collaroy. Picture: Popov Bass

A developer has won a court battle to modify plans to bulldoze four family homes on a northern beaches’ backstreet and replace them with 10 units for over 55s.

Northern Beaches Council was bombarded with more than 170 submissions when the original $13.1m plans for the seniors living apartment complex at Collaroy went on public exhibition in mid-2023.

Complaints ranged from increased population density in the quiet neighbourhood, through to traffic problems and the size and bulk of the two-storey, pavilion-style unit block.

Planning documents showed that the complex, featuring three-bedroom units and basement parking, would stretch over the building lots on the corner of Hay St and Anzac Ave.

The Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel, on behalf of the council, rejected the application in December 2023, on grounds that it did not fit in with the low density character of the neighbourhood and had excessive floor space.

An artist's impression of a seniors living development to be built on four traditional building lots in Hay St. Picture: Popov Bass

But the DA was approved by the NSW Land and Environment in June 2024, after the developer appealed the panel’s decision.

An application to modify the DA was then lodged by the developer, Collaroy Living Pty Ltd, in August last year which also ended up before the court.

An artist's impression of a seniors living development to be built in Hay St, which locals say, will take away from the “lovely, gentle open lifestyle” of their neighbourhood. Picture: Popov Bass

The modifications, which included increasing the floor area of units to “improve amenity for future occupants without impacting the amenity of neighbouring properties”, have now been approved by the court.

In its original DA, the developer suggested that the project would help meet the accommodation needs of the northern beaches’ ageing population.

It argued, in a statement of environmental effects, that the development would “ensure the design responds to both neighbourhood and streetscape character”.

“The proposed colours and materials blend into the natural streetscape and colours and materials are used to appropriately reduce building bulk, while maintaining consistency with the coastal character and compatibility with the established streetscape,” the report stated.

An existing home on the site of the 10-unit seniors living redevelopment to be built at the corner of Anzac Ave and Hay St, Collaroy. Picture: Popov Bass

Privacy of neighbours, and the development’s residents, would be met, the consultants’ report stated.

Locals argued, in more than 40 public submissions to the plan modification application, that the redevelopment was still too big.

Resident John Richards wrote that it would “reduce the lovely, gentle open lifestyle we currently enjoy at Collaroy”.

Peter Castellan argued the development was “inconsistent with the residential family homes that characterise this beautiful northern beaches’ location”.

Originally published as Collaroy, Hay St: Developer wins over-55’s apartment block court stoush