New South Head Rd, Edgecliff: decision made on $346m, 45-storey tower plan
A decision has been made on a controversial plan to build a 45-storey residential and commercial tower in Sydney’s east, with plans for a new shopping centre and transport hub.
NSW
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Developers behind a controversial plan for a towering 45-storey residential and commercial tower in Sydney’s east have lost their last-ditch effort to see the proposal approved.
The $346 million plan to send in the wrecking ball at the Edgecliff Centre, by developers Longhurst Group, was rejected by the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel after a rezoning review was submitted for the proposal following refusal of the plans by Woollahra Council.
The multimillion-dollar proposal for the mixed use, 195-metre tower for 233 New South Head Rd, Edgecliff was forecast to generate more than $1 billion in economic impact, as well as over 800 construction jobs and a massive 2600 jobs.
A massive 268 apartments were proposed as part of the planning proposal, alongside a new dining, retail and commercial precinct.
In February, Woollahra councillors voted to refuse the towering proposal, as it “does not sufficiently address future infrastructure and community needs that future development on the site would generate” and did not provide affordable housing.
“It is inconsistent with the scale and role of a local centre and the desired future character of the precinct (and) does not provide sufficient public benefit,” council strategic planning manager Anne White said.
A planner for the project argued it would “create a revitalised and vibrant transit-orientated development” at the site.
“The renewal will also provide essential retail, medical, health and wellbeing services, and has the potential to provide a new community space and a publicly accessible open green space and plaza areas that will benefit the broader community,” he said.
Despite 88 per cent of respondents supporting the approval of the redevelopment of the Edgecliff Centre in a NewsLocal poll, the planning panel said the proposal “should not be submitted for a Gateway determination because the proposal has not demonstrated strategic merit”.
“The Panel agrees this large site in its location is currently underdeveloped and recognises the
opportunities and public benefit that could flow from its redevelopment,” panel chair Carl Scully said. “The proponent has not demonstrated certainty with respect to the public benefit of the upgrade of the bus and rail interchange as a justification for such a substantial uplift.
“The proponent argues that the centre has potential for the transition to a strategic centre rather than a local one. If this is to be sustained, then greater public benefits need to be demonstrated. This would include, but not limited to more affordable housing with a greater percentage of one bedroom and studio apartments with no parking; adequate open space; and improved community facilities within the location.”
Longhurst Group were called on to submit a new planning proposal for the site following the refusal.
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