Painters Lane Terrigal: Local planning panel make decision on shop top housing changes

A decision has been made on changes to shop top housing plans in Terrigal that have caused outrage over a glass lift and walkways.

The addition of a lift and pedestrian walkways have quashed plans to alter a shop top housing development in Terrigal.

Changes to an approved $10m shop top housing development at 10-16 Painters Lane have been unanimously rejected by the Central Coast Local Planning Panel.

The panel announced its decision to reject the latest plans on Wednesday, stating that the changes are not in the public interest.

“The proposed modification is not substantially the same development for which consent was originally granted,” the panel stated in its determination.

The site of the development which was initially approved in 2015.

“The proposed modification would result in additional unreasonable impacts as a result of additional floor space and reduction in distance between buildings.”

Back in 2015, the former Gosford council approved the shop top development on Painters Lane to include 31 units over two separate five storey buildings with lower floor commercial spaces and basement carparking.

The plans form part of the wider development of the 7658 sqm Rapedo site enclosed by Painters Lane and Campbell Crescent. This site has its own masterplan and is subject to separate developments.

Artists impressions of the amended plans for 10-16 Painters Lane.

The changes proposed included dropping from 31 to 23 units, relocating four units to the ground floor level and adding an extra basement carpark level to be accessed by a car lift. There was a proposed central lift to be added between the buildings as well as pedestrian bridges on the first, third and roof levels.

Other changes included increasing office spaces to meet demands of “work from home” executives.

The proposed glass lift and walkways between the two five storey buildings sparked objections.

Central Coast Council were against the plans saying that the increased size of the building and proposed lift resulted in a “substantially different development”.

Council also stated that the original approval had a 6.5m gap between buildings for a view corridor which would be eliminated of changes were approved.

“It results in significant loss if amenity for adjoining sites, adds to bulk and scale and is inconsistent with the desired character,” the council stated.

The developer argued that the changes are “responsive to post Covid-19 pandemic executive residential accommodation” and would provide both short-term holiday accommodation as well as “barefoot executive” housing.

The Rapedo lands in Terrigal are subject to different development applications.

They said changes are consistent with the features of the land, surrounding developments in Terrigal and address “post Covid marketplace expectations”.

“The development is substantially the same as that approved in that its inclusions comprise shop top housing and offices with basement parking within a building of similar footprint and

height,” the developer states in their report.

During public exhibition the changes received public objections around the size of the development, the lift being an “eyesore”, increased height, loss of view between the two buildings as well as the development not fitting in with the character of the area.