Carnes Hill: Rejected plans for KFC, child care centre at shopping centre back under council review

A rejected proposal to build a new KFC, car service outlet, childcare centre and much more at a southwest Sydney shopping centre is back under review. Here’s what we know.

Carnes Hills Shopping Centre. Picture: Google Maps

A rejected proposal to build a KFC, childcare centre and car service outlet at a southwest Sydney shopping centre is back under review.

Higgins Planning Pty Ltd lodged a development application to the Liverpool Council back in August 2023 to make alterations and additions to the Carnes Hill Shopping Centre.

The plan was to construct a new KFC with a drive thru, a mycar service shop, childcare centre, extend an existing building for centre management and relocate the V8 car wash.

However, the application was refused by the council due to numerous factors such as “insufficient information” on whether the land was “free from contaminants or suitable for the proposed development” such as asbestos.

The site was once the home of chicken sheds operated by Ingham until the mid-1990s, with the sheds torn down and the land remediated for the shopping centre.

An aerial view of the proposed KFC, mycar, childcare centre and relocation of the V8 car wash. Picture: Liverpool Council

The proposal was also refused as it failed to “demonstrate that the development would not have an adverse impact on the natural and built environment to the locality”, according to the council.

“It is the proponent’s responsibility to investigate the site and provide the planning authority with the information it needs to carry out its planning functions,” the council report stated.

Design plans for the proposed KFC. Picture: Liverpool Council

“The application must be supported by a remediation action plan to demonstrate how the proponent proposes to reduce risks to acceptable levels and achieve the clean-up objectives for the site.

“Insufficient information was submitted to address the above requirement, therefore the proposal is unsupported.”

The council’s urban design officer also raised objections, highlighting there had been design omissions and discrepancies over the number of footpaths and street tree replacements.

“The proposed development is not considered to be acceptable having regard to the concerns raised from internal referrals within council and a submission objecting to the proposal,” the report states.

An aerial view of the shopping centre. Picture: Liverpool Council

The plans were formally rejected in December 2024, however the application has returned and is now under review with the council.