Chatswood residents worried that a nine-storey development would be to the detriment of the local area.

NORTH SHORE TIMES: Residents protest the demolition of Legacy House for proposed nine-storey boarding house on a residential street in a heritage conservation area.

Residents have joined forces to stop a boarding house being built on Legacy House, Chatswood.

More than 150 residents, as well as local councillors, spoke out about the development at a protest on March 22.

Resident Jennifer Gibson said the nine-storey building proposed for 28 Archer St would be out of character for the local area.

Artist impression of a proposed development at 28 Archer St, Chatswood.

“This proposal will be to the detriment of the local community and the heritage character of Chatswood,” she said.

“The bulk and scale of the proposed nine-storey building is out of character with local residential area, which contains many heritage-listed houses.” she said.

Other concerns included loss of privacy and sunlight available to adjoining residents, potential adverse social impacts, adverse impact on traffic volume on already busy thoroughfares and limited parking spaces will impact on local street parking available.

The development had been lodged under the State Environment Planning Policy (Affordable Rental Housing) 2009, which allowed the developer to bypass Willoughby Councils local environment plan.

This included building a high-density building in a low-density zone and provide 13 carparks for 112 residents.

The development would house low to very low income earners which could include students, workers, singles and the homeless.

The proposal is was currently being assessed by Willoughby Council officers, with general manager Nick Tobin saying the State Government’s policy overrides many council restrictions.

“The number of proposed spaces complies with the policy,” he said.

“The state policy is based on the premise that the occupants of boarding houses do not all own private motor vehicles and that some will rely on public transport.”