Manly, North Steyne: Hitch in property mogul’s bid to redevelop last beachfront site

It’s been billed as the last major redevelopment site on Manly’s beachfront, but this block of luxury apartments has hit another planning hurdle.

A bid by a multi-millionaire property mogul to redevelop the last major site on the Manly beachfront into a luxury block of apartments is set to hit a planning snag.

Robin Khuda, a telecommunications entrepreneur from Mosman, bought two run down blocks of flats, near Queenscliff surf club, for a total of $18.2 million in November last year.

The two-storey blocks, at 138 and 139 North Steyne, already had development approval to be demolished and replaced with one, four-storey block of six apartments.

An artist's impression of the apartment block to be built at 138-139 North Steyne, Queenscliff. Picture: Roberts Day

But Northern Beaches Council has recommended that changes that Mr Khuda — founder of AirTrunk — wants to make should be knocked back by planning officials.

The luxury dwellings — including a four-bedroom top floor unit that will have uninterrupted views of Manly Beach from Queenscliff to Shelly Beach — are expected to fetch between $8 million to $12m when they hit the market.

Development approval was granted for the project in December 2018 by the independent Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel.

It attracted close to 20 submissions from the public at the time, objecting to issues including the height and bulk of the building; traffic impacts along North Steyne and the loss of ocean views of neighbours.

The Planning Panel has now been asked to rule on several modifications to the development approval, including an increase in the size of windows. These windows would be close to neighbouring unit blocks and private courtyards and gardens.

AirTrunk founder Robin Khuda spent $18.2m on the two blocks of rundown flats on North Steyne. Source: LinkedIn

The council has recommended to the planning panel, which met on Wednesday to rule on the application, that the modifications be refused.

These modifications, which have attracted 17 public submissions, also included “full height glazing” on the front of the building; the reduced set backs of “external walls” as well as changes to the car park access, resulting in reduced landscaped frontage.

In a submission to the panel, neighbour Yuk Kai Lee complained that the bigger windows on the northern and eastern side of the building would reflect sunlight on to his property and “disturb the tranquillity of my living area”.

“Moreover the reflection may shine onto the eyes of drivers (on North Steyne), compromising the traffic safety,” he wrote.

Another neighbour, Andrew Thomas, had concerns that the view from his neighbouring unit would be affected by the proposed changes in position of solar panels and other plant and equipment on the development’s roof.

Mr Thomas also had concerns the modified plans and reduce the separation between the proposed block and his unit block.

A report from a town planning consultant to Mr Khuda, lodged with the modification application, stated the changes would result in a “building of exceptional design quality which will make a positive contribution to the streetscape …”

The planning panel was expected to release its decision this week.

The Manly Daily has contacted Mr Khuda’s office for comment.