Manly Vale: 4-storey, $12m ‘shop-top’ unit block too big for area: Council planners say

Planning authorities have decided the fate of a $12m bid to build an apartment complex in Manly Vale that smashed local height limits.

An artist's impression of a proposed $12 million, four-storey shop top apartment development on Condamine St and Kenneth Rd at Manly Vale. The plan was knocked back by authorities because it breached local height and design rules. Picture: Gartner Trovato Architects

A bid to build a four-storey $12 million ‘shop-top’ apartment block on one of the northern beaches busiest roads has been knocked back by planning authorities.

The Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel refused a development application for the 31-unit building on Condamine St at Manly Vale.

An artist's impression of a proposed $12 million, four-storey shop top apartment development at Manly Vale. Picture: Gartner Trovato Architects

Thursday’s decision came after Northern Beaches Council officers told the panel that the building, which also has a street frontage on Kenneth Rd, breached local height limits.

The developer, Co-ordinated Projects Pty Ltd, had been trying to convince authorities to let it build four storeys instead of three.

The council also advised the planning panel that the proposal, which included three retail outlets, was contrary to several design principles set out in a State Environmental Planning Policy and a local Apartment Design Guide.

An artist's impression of the Condamine St entrance to the development. Picture: Gartner Trovato Architects

Authorities also said the develop did not provide enough shops in its plans.

An assessment report by the council stated that the entire upper floor protruded above the 11m height limit by up to 4.3m — an increase of 39 per cent.

In a submission opposed to the development, neighbour Philip Fagan said the proposed building height was close to a full storey over the height limit.

“If the proposal was to be approved in its current form, this would then set a

precedent for any future development in Manly Vale,” Mr Fagan said.

The boundaries of the redevelopment site at 265 Condamine St, Manly Vale. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

The T.D. Preece underwater diving equipment building at 1 Kenneth Rd at Manly Vale before it was demolished. Picture: Google Maps

The 1533 sqm T-shaped property, made up of two Lots that have street frontages at 265 Condamine St and 1 Kenneth Rd, wraps around an approved residential redevelopment site that is now being built.

One of the Lots used to accommodate an underwater industrial diving equipment company.

The combined site was sold to the developer in November 2019 for $9.9 million by furniture retailer Nick Scali. It wanted to build a furniture showroom, but the development never went ahead.

An artist's impression of a Nick Scali furniture showroom that was proposed in 2016 for 265 Condamine St, Manly Vale, which never went ahead. Picture: Supplied

DA documents show that the developer of the apartment complex was advised by a council assessing officer in early April that there were “ongoing concerns” including issues with the building height; setbacks to adjoining sites; traffic and parking as well as noncompliance with a number of apartment design criteria.

“The form of the Kenneth Road building is considered to be excessive in consideration of size and scale of surrounding development.” the assessment report stated.

An artist's impression of the proposed entrance to the development on Kenneth Rd. Picture: Gartner Trovato Architects

The developer was given the opportunity to withdraw the DA, but decided to press ahead with the application. council officers said in their report.

The planning panel voted unanimously to reject the proposal.

The Manly Daily contacted the developer for reaction to the decision, but it declined to comment.