Revealed: Subdivision plans for old Toowoon Bay van park on Charlton St after $4.5M sale

The new owner of a near-vacant block of prime beachside real estate has lodged plans to subdivide the site after purchasing it for a record price last year.

The new owner of the old Toowoon Bay Van Park site has lodged plans with Central Coast Council to subdivide the huge 2156sq m site.

But not everyone is happy with the proposal already receiving one submission stating any development “right on the property line” would block a neighbour’s natural light and invade their property.

It comes after a family from NSW’s Northern Rivers region purchased the double block at 2-4 Charlton St for a suburb record of $4.5 million last year.

The former van park at 2-4 Charlton St, Toowoon Bay, is just 200m from the access to Toowoon Bay beach. Picture: supplied

The former caravan park went to Auction in late February last year but was passed in.

Selling agent Craig Fisher said following the auction the property was sold to a family by negotiation.

The sale was reported to have eclipsed the current suburb record of $4.3 million set by 119 Toowoon Bay Rd.

A development application (DA) lodged with council seeks to subdivide the lot into four blocks with a shared battle axe driveway down the western boundary.

Lots 1-3 would measure 450sq m, excluding the driveway, while the lot at the rear would measure 514sq m.

The proposed lots are far smaller than the 750sq m recommended for battle axe subdivisions under the relevant planning controls.

However the DA states there is “adequate area” available to build a standard home and meet the required areas of private open space.

It also states there are several examples of battle axe lots created below the 750sq m size in the area, including directly behind the block, which do not have “any adverse impact on the character of the area or the ability to provide quality housing”.

Location, location, location. The large double block is just 200m from the beach. Picture: supplied

“In the absence of any social, economic or ecological impacts, the proposed subdivision layout is considered to contribute to the orderly development of land and provision of quality housing sites in a highly desirable locality,” the DA states.

The DA has already attracted one submission against the proposal with an adjoining neighbour concerned about a loss of sunlight and privacy.

The submission states the proposed fourth lot at the rear of the site would leave the neighbour “totally boxed in on all sides” and lose natural light to their kitchen and dining room “and impact on our privacy”.

The subdivision remains before council for assessment.

A two-storey manager’s residence is all that is left on the large flat block. Picture: Supplied