Court battle avoided over knockdown of $14m North Bondi mansion

If you spent $14 million on a luxury North Bondi mansion, would your first move be to knock it down? Well, eastern suburbs financier David Lang and his wife went to court to do just that.

Most people would be content if they could spend a record-breaking $14 million on a luxury clifftop mansion that features a pool overlooking the waters off Bondi.

But eastern suburbs financier David Lang and his wife Dearbhail weren’t happy, so they are spending more than $4 million to knock the whole thing down and build it from scratch — just the way they like it.

And, following the conclusion of a case in the NSW Land and Environment Court, that is exactly what Mr Lang — a partner in Sydney investment firm KKR — and his wife now plan to do.

The North Bondi mansion David Lang bought for $14 million.

There was one hurdle in the form of Waverley Council, which rejected their plans for a lavish three-storey rebuild on the basis that it was simply too big for the plot of land.

Private equity specialist David Lang is set to knock down the Bondi mansion he spent $14 million on.

But that issue has now been settled after the council avoided a costly legal battle with the couple in the LEC by approving a scaled-back version of the development plans, which will still be three storeys tall.

The couple set a record in June 2018 when they purchased the two-storey, four bedroom property on Hastings Pde in North Bondi.

The property had built in 2005 and was already the picture of luxury. A pool in the sizeable backyard and adjoining barbecue area overlooked the Pacific Ocean, while the inside of the property features the same views from bedrooms and open plan kitchen.

On April 16, 2019, Mr Lang submitted an application to Waverley Council to demolish the existing property to build a three-storey house in its place with a new pool.

According to council documents, the rebuild was estimated to cost $4.3 million.

It featured three bedrooms and a guest room on the first floor while the second floor included kitchen and living areas. The master bedroom with dual walk-in wardrobes was to be on the third floor.

The property was built in 2005.

The couple put in amended plans for the North Bondi mansion.

Some of the proposed new plans for the property.

However, the council rejected the plans in August citing a long list of reasons for the rejection.

Chief among the reasons was the sheer size of the redevelopment was simply too big for the relatively narrow 537sq m block.

The council also concluded it would block the views and sunlight of some of the couple’s equally rich neighbours.

The council’s decision, published on its website, said “the proposed development is excessive in terms of its building massing, bulk and scale relative to the site area and dimensions …”.

The current backyard of the property on Hastings Pde, North Bondi.

The property also overlooks Bondi Beach.

As a result, the proposal was “unacceptable” in terms of “amenity and streetscape impacts upon the locality and surrounding built environment”.

After the rejection, Mr Lang challenged the council’s decision in the LEC.

Rather than get drawn into a costly legal battle, the council agreed to approve the development if Mr Lang agreed to amend the plans.

In court, Commissioner said the application for “the demolition of (the) existing two-storey dwelling and swimming pool and construction of (a) new three-storey dwelling and swimming pool” was approved subject to 17 pages of council conditions.

The court gave Mr Lang until December 20 to file the amended plans with the council. These are yet to be published on the council’s website.

Got a news tip? Email [e-mail]