Frenchs Forest: Plans for 124-unit block in new town centre precinct
Plans have been revealed showing one of the first big ticket apartment developments that will make up part of a new town centre in Sydney. See the artist’s impressions.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Plans for one of the first mega-residential redevelopments around the future Frenchs Forest Town Centre have been revealed.
A massive $71m proposal to build 124 apartments — across three 6-storey blocks — opposite Northern Beaches Hospital is being examined by planning officials.
The development will take over four family house lots on the corner of Frenchs Forest Rd West and Gladys Ave, according to documents lodged with Northern Beaches Council.
The DA comes as new figures have been released predicting that just one quarter of dwellings across Sydney will be detached houses by 2057.
An Urban Taskforce study projected that apartments, over the same period, would make up 50 per cent of all Sydney dwellings. Attached homes such as duplexes and townhouses would increase from 14 per cent to 25 per cent.
This latest DA would also help meet the council’s target of 12,000 new dwellings needed to house a predicted population rise of 23,000 by 2026.
The project also comes three years after the NSW Government gave planning permission to create the new Frenchs Forest Town Centre based around the site of the current The Forest High School.
The town centre, part of the wider “Frenchs Forest Place Strategy 2041” which includes 5360 new homes, was given the government’s planning tick of approval just before Christmas 2021.
It is the first phase of a three-stage redevelopment — designed to incorporate the hospital precinct into the suburb — to be rolled out over the next 20 years.
The current Forest High school will be demolished. A new high school is now being built at nearby Allambie Heights. About 1.5 hectares of new public open space, including a 1665sq m plaza, will be created and the council will upgrade three local parks – Brick Pit, Akora and Rabbett reserves.
Planning documents state the latest DA will include nine apartments set aside for community public housing and 21 for affordable housing for key workers.
There is already approval for a 55-room affordable housing development in Gladys Ave, aimed at offering accommodation to hospital staff.
In the Statement of Environmental Effects, lodged with the DA, a planning consultant wrote that the unit development seeks to “build on the established character of French’s Forest to create a place for people”.
“The proposal is consistent with (establishing) a vibrant and safe high-street and medium density residential buildings which provide safe, energised and a tree lined high-street for residents and workers,” the report stated.
‘Sack them all’: Outrage as council endorses 40pc rate hike
The Northern Beaches Council has voted to seek permission to slug residents with a 40 per cent rates rise, hours after about 200 furious locals rallied outside its chambers to voice their disgust at the proposal.
‘Passion project’: $11m bid to build up-market Sydney beach units
An $11m bid to transform the site of two popular restaurants near a busy Sydney beach into a block of up-market “shop-top” apartments has been revealed.