Cyprus Club, Stanmore: Redevelopment plans for Inner West clubhouse sent back to drawing board

A major redevelopment proposal for a Sydney community club’s HQ has been sent back to the drawing board by council. See how 160 planned homes played a role.

Major redevelopment proposals for a Sydney community club’s HQ have been sent back to the drawing board with council citing community and traffic concerns, while the club’s president renewed his commitment to finding a way past the impasse.

The Cyprus Community of NSW’s historic, beloved but aged clubhouse on Stanmore Rd, in Sydney’s Inner West, has long been the subject of development proposals, but the latest plans have been put on ice after council said community, traffic, design and amenity concerns meant it couldn’t support the proposals.

Inner West Council staff on Tuesday put forward their recommendation to withhold support for the proposal to councillors, all of whom – while citing their support for the community and club – voted in accordance.

Club president Andrew Costa thanked councillors for their general support for the community and renewed the club’s commitment to working with council on the proposals.

“Councillors expressed strong support for the community and its objective to remain in Stanmore and redevelop its existing premises,” he said.

The existing club is a staple of Stanmore Rd – the mooted plans would include a redevelopment of the building and new homes.

“Councillors who spoke on the matter urged council staff to work with the community to urgently resolve these matters so that approval may be granted in the coming months.”

The proposal sought to amend the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) to enable mixed-use development for a raft of new homes and a new club.

The plans include 160 new homes, a redesign and upgrade of the existing club building, new green space, cafes and shops, among others.

According to plans submitted to council, the community would retain about 2500 sqm with the rest – about 7000 sqm – leased to developer Platino Properties for 99 years in return for $45 million.

Concept art of the redeveloped Cyprus Club, viewed from Stanmore St.

Concept art of the redevelopment of the club.

In its report, council noted that a total of 222 submissions were received in response to the exhibition of the proposals in May: 90 supported the proposal, 123 opposed and 9 were neutral.

Submissions in favour expressed support for local economic growth and jobs, as well as local social and sporting entities through the revitalisation of the site. Submissions opposed “raised key issues relating to traffic and safety, insufficient carparking, loss of local character, and excessive building height”, the report noted.

“The proposal in its current form warrants concerns relating to traffic, parking, built form, amenity and public domain,” council staff said.

“(These) cannot be adequately resolved without detailed LEP provisions, site-specific development control plans (DCP) and a planning agreement.”

Post-exhibition amendments recommended by council include addressing height and bulk concerns, ensuring a diversity of housing available, provides new publicly accessible through-site links, and better carparking allocation, among others.

Council will request for the deferral of the LEP to allow of a site-specific DCP and planning agreement, and – if the amendments are made and accepted – will then forward the amended proposals to Planning Minister Anthony Roberts to make amendments to the LEP.