Belrose dementia care nursing home approved after court battle
A developer who took a Sydney council to the Land and Environment Court after rejecting a development application for a 105-room nursing home in Belrose has won. Find out what happened here.
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A luxurious $32.5m nursing home called the Belrose Manor has been granted approval following a fierce court battle between the developer and the council in the Land and Environment Court.
The residential aged care facility planned for 181 Forest Way in Belrose by developer Chriroseph Pty Ltd was granted development consent by the Land and Environment Court on Thursday.
The project will involve knocking down the existing house and shed, the removal of 45 trees and the construction of a three-storey building with 105 beds, a dementia ward, a cafe, staff areas, a kitchen and a two level car park with 45 parking spaces.
Other perks would include 25 dementia beds, a central courtyard, a gym, hairdresser and spa.
The development on the 2.12ha site was proposed in 2018 but was rejected this April by the Sydney North Planning Panel and Northern Beaches Council on grounds of “overdevelopment” and “non compliances of building height and front setback built form”.
Planning panel documents reveal while the development had “merit”, it didn’t have the required bushfire documentation and therefore the NSW RFS were not satisfied.
Further, the community shared concerns over noise, privacy, building bulk, lighting, tree and vegetation loss and traffic.
Belrose resident Anne Saxon outlined her concerns in a submission to Northern Beaches Council in January.
“We are cramming more and more people into every square inch of undeveloped land and
destroying the environment and wildlife in the process,” Ms Saxon wrote.
“This block already sits at the top of heavily wooded bushland and is under threat from fire.
The traffic is also a nightmare and will only be made worse if this development goes ahead.
“Quality of life for all the people currently living nearby will be destroyed, but no one cares about that when there is a buck involved.”
Online documents from the Land and Environment Court show Commissioner Horton granted an exemption to building height and setbacks, stating, “I am satisfied that the development standards are complied with”.
The commissioner also addressed it’s impact to the general public by stating, it “will not disrupt the skyline when viewed from Narrabeen Lagoon or the Wakehurst Parkway. On this basis, I am satisfied that the proposed development is consistent with the desired future character of the locality.”
Friends of Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment wrote a submission to the council opposing the development, when it was proposed in 2018.
Judith Bennett, spokeswoman for Narrabeen Lagoon Catchment spoke about the outcome, stating it was a “shame”.
“What can you say? The Land and Environment Court is overruling councils all the time,” Ms Bennett said.
“Our main concern is the bushland and catchment, which is below it.”
She didn’t wish to provide further comment.
Kelvin Saxton on behalf of Trinity Management Services Pty Ltd said the developer was not interested in providing comment, when offered the opportunity.