$4m childcare development set to replace homes on Sydney’s northern beaches
Artist Impressions: A new 146-space childcare facility planned for Sydney’s northern beaches has been described as something that would ‘provide significant benefit to the community’ — but there are concerns of what impact it will have on traffic.
Manly
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A 146-SPACE childcare centre is being proposed to replace three homes in Forestville.
The $4 million development part-one, a two-storey building, would allow for day care as well as after-school care on the site.
The almost 4000sq m site was previously planned for a 230-space centre, which was approved by the Land Environment Court in 2016.
But planning documents lodged to Northern Beaches Council said those plans did not go ahead “due to economic considerations”.
“The provision of high quality child care services within this location will provide significant benefit to the community and will help ease a growing demand for child care places within the locality,” said the report, submitted by Minto Planning Services on behalf of Warringah Rd Developments.
The developers have aimed to alleviate any traffic concerns by creating a slip road at the entry to the site, which it said would remove traffic from Warringah Rd.
A minimum setback of 6.5 metres would be in place from Warringah Rd.
“The proposed landscaping is designed so as to ensure that the development makes both a positive contribution to the character of the area as well as ensuring that the children occupying the site are provided with a stimulating and enjoyable play/learning environment,” the report said.
There is one submission against the proposal, which has criticised traffic impacts.
“There are already a number of child care centres/preschools in the area, within two blocks,” the submission said. “The amount of traffic on Warringah Rd will potentially be slowed by vehicles entering and exiting the centre.
The report justifies the placement of the centre by suggesting a number of similar projects have been allowed nearby including a 28-dwelling seniors housing lot.