Plans for ‘micro lot housing’ at West Pennant Hills IBM

A MASTERPLANNED development proposal for 600 dwellings at the former IBM business park at West Pennant Hills has passed yet another major hurdle.

An artist’s impression of the apartment complex at the IBM site.

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A MASTERPLANNED development proposal for 600 dwellings at the former IBM business park at West Pennant Hills has passed yet another major hurdle.

The Hills Shire Council voted to forward an amended gateway determination agreement to the Planning Department to allow “micro lot” housing.

The approval of the first type of micro lot housing in The Hills would result in medium- density lots within the precinct as small as 86sq m.

Micro lot townhouses will be the first of its kind in the Hills Shire.

The move follows a determination in June that imposed increased environmental protections for the Cumberland State Forest.

If approved, the Mirvac proposal for 55 Coonara Ave, West Pennant Hills, would see 200 medium-density townhouses and 400 apartments developed across the site in buildings of up to six storeys, as well as new roads and a synthetic turf field for public use.

But West Pennant Hills Progress Association representative Joan Rowley said there were strongreasons to stop the development at “such an iconic site”.

An overview of the planning proposal.

Ms Rowley said the proposal was in the wrong location, with some of the masterplanned precinct more than 1km from the Cherrybrook station site.

“We need local employment,” she said.

“If employment is council’s main focus, it doesn't make sense to rezone this business park for housing.”

Ms Rowley said there were also grave concerns for the area’s powerful owl population, increased traffic and the destruction of the forest.

Community groups during a protest calling on residents to take a stand against what they thought was “inappropriate development” for the site. Picture: AAP Image/ Ryan Osland

But Mirvac spokesman Adrian Checchin said the development would decrease traffic in the valley by 700 cars.

“Local employment on this site is dead, companies do not want to be located in isolated areas in the middle of nowhere,” he said.

Labor councillor Ryan Tracey said his colleagues were failing to listen to the outcry from the community.

Liberal councillor Robyn Preston said the development would bring new life and a new community to the valley.