$34m development planned for vacant northern beaches land

A proposal has been put forward for a housing development on one of the last remaining plots of land at Warriewood Valley, in Sydney’s north — but there a fears it will lead to overdevelopment in the area if given the green light.

An artist’s impression of the block of units proposed for the site.

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Plans have been submitted for a $34 million housing development on one of the last remaining plots of land at Warriewood Valley.

The proposal is for a three-storey block containing 32 units, ten semi-detached homes and two detached homes.

Developer The Knowles Group also wants to build a new road to connect the homes to Lorikeet Grove and Warriewood Rd.

Plans for new housing block at Warriewood Valley.

It is the latest in a number of developments in the valley which was once the peninsula’s farming heartland.

Directly to the south of the site, building work is nearing completion for a 130-bed aged care facility which will have space for 66 cars.

The developer said that once finished it will provide an “exceptional residential amenity” and provide much needed housing.

However, others disagree and Northern Beaches Council has already received objections.

Phillip Hunt, who lives in Warriewood Rd, said the necessary infrastructure isn’t in place.

“We just haven’t got the roads,” he said. “Everyone has a car these days and with the amount of people they want to stick in there the infrastructure is not going to be able to cope.”

Kristin Zindel, who lives in Hill St, said the proposal was an overdevelopment of the site.

“I think for that particular site there should be two or three houses. What is being proposed is too much.

An artist’s impression of the aged care facility which is nearing completion.

“With the way it’s going, it’s going to get out of control. Warriewood Square is only two minutes away and on a Saturday it is impossible to get in there.”

Plans show the block of units will be on the western side of the plot with the semi-detached and two detached homes to the east – separated by the new road.

The proposal satisfies most planning guidelines but fails to provide sufficient communal open space.

The state’s Apartment Design Guide requires 25 per cent of the site to be dedicated to communal open space. The proposal offers just 18 per cent.

The developer argues open space opposite the site makes up for the shortfall.

An architect’s plan showing the block of units and the semi-detached homes below.

The valley has been split up into individual parcels of land, with each section considered individually for development.

Collaroy’s Tomasy Planning, on behalf of The Knowles Group, said the development will be an “exceptional amenity” adding that is has been “sensitively and skilfully designed to respond to the existing site constraints”.

The Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel will consider the application later this year.

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