Newport: $7m shop top housing proposal in popular retail complex
A developer’s vision to revitalise Newport with a $7m shop top development proposal has been met with criticism. See all the details here including artist impressions.
Manly
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A three-storey $7m shop top housing development proposed for a popular spot in Newport was set to revitalise the area but it’s been met with criticism from members of the community including an Anglican Church.
Plans by Development Link for 351 to 353 Barrenjoey Rd in Newport involves bulldozing the existing buildings, excavation works for a basement carpark and construction of shop top housing with eight ground floor retail units and 13 residential apartments above.
The existing site is made up of a string of shops and residential apartments on the top which are two to three storeys.
The basement car park will be built across two levels to provide 50 parking spaces.
According to documents on Northern Beaches Council’s website, the proposal will look to improve the existing site which is “deteriorated” and to replace it with “a contemporary architecturally designed outcome.”
Comments made on behalf of Development Link state it is also set to “assist in the rejuvenation of the Newport Town Centre” and will provide “local meeting places and employment opportunities”.
Meanwhile, plans for a communal open space on the second level overlooking Robertson St is set to increase “passive surveillance” and “enhance the amenity and enjoyment of this passive recreational area”.
However, several letters have been submitted to the council objecting to the development which includes a submission made on behalf of the Newport Anglican Church, which is a heritage site located nearby the development proposal.
In a letter written by Mark Tooker, the elected warden at Newport Anglican Church,he refers to concerns over flooding, heritage and geotechnical aspects.
“It is evident that flood storage does occur on the site and the development will remove this flood storage and relocate it onto the church site thereby increasing flood levels on the church site,” Mr Tooker wrote.
“The mitigation measure needs to be a 3m wide drainage easement along the western boundary which is subject to a positive covenant and restriction on the land title and provides for the inherent right to be able to drain the church site without adverse flooding impacts.”
He added, the old timber church has “shallow foundations” and expressed concerns over whether excavation works and vibration would impact the church site.
“There is no geotechnical or groundwater data or assessment provided to support the
adequacy or not of a 1.5m setback provided to the deep excavation either during
construction or over the long term.
“This is completely inadequate given that a heritage item on shallow footings is located less than 1m from the western boundary of the subject site.”
Newport resident Peter Middleton told the Manly Daily it did not comply with the Newport Village Commercial Centre Masterplan and could “destroy” hopes to turn Robertson Rd into a “pedestrian plaza”.
Newport Residents Association had similar views. President Gavin Butler said the plans could have a potential impact on existing businesses and parking.
“We’re not against new development which revitalises things but this one being proposed is extremely large,” Mr Butler said.
“If you’ve got over 55 cars in a one-way street going in and out of a plaza, it’s just not going to work.
“During the development phase, they are going to take away half the parking on Robertson Rd which will almost destroy the cafes. If you take away all the parking for customers and turn it into a truck depo, it won’t be good for businesses for a couple of years.”
He said the parking was also “in the wrong spot” and the residential apartments were “too small”.
A spokesman from Crawford Architects, which have been working on the project with Development Links said they addressed concerns related to the church, the masterplan and parking.
“If you look at the drawings, the bulk and scale has been vastly reduced in response to the original DA and we’ve addressed the council’s concerns relating to the church,” the Crawford Architects spokesman said.
“The parking access point is away from the main road and is far north of the site so we can stay out of the flood zone. We’re well within the height requirements. Our design has been dictated by the council’s planning requirements.
“I’m from the northern beaches. The council has a vision and we just want to be part of their vision for the area.”