Proposed planning changes means Northern Beaches could get more ‘dual occupancy’ homes

Young homebuyers and senior downsizers will have more housing options — including a rise in dual occupancies — to choose from if a new draft planning plan for the Northern Beaches is adopted

More dual occupancy developments — two homes on the one block of land — would pop up on the norhtern beachs if the council’s new draft Local Environment Plan was given the go-ahead by the state govenrment. Picture: Supplied

There will be more opportunities for Northern Beaches’ locals and developers to create “dual occupancy” residences if a new planning rules document gets the go-ahead by the state government.

Maximum building heights would be changed in some town centres, including Brookvale and Frenchs Forest.

And as part of a draft “Local Environment Plan” created by Northern Beaches Council, there will also be “conservation zones” created to help protect environmentally-sensitive bushland, waterways and coastline.

An extraordinary council meeting heard on Monday night that a greater diversity of housing types was needed to help accommodate a growing population and provide more home options for young people and downsizers.

Dual occupancy homes in the former Warringah Council area will be allowed if the new LEP is approved.

The Northern Beaches will have a population of 288,431 people in 2036 — an increase of 22,963 people from the 2016 census. About 12,000 new dwellings would be needed by 2036.

“The intent is to ensure greater diversity in dwelling types and promote housing choices for various sectors of the community, living needs, and budgets,” the draft LEP stated.

On its website, the council explained that an LEP was required by the state government for all local government areas to “guide land use planning and development decisions as well conservation of land within the area”.

There are currently four LEPs now operating in the area, with an array of different planning rules — a legacy of the previous Manly, Warringah and Pittwater councils before they were amalgamated into the Northern Beaches Council.

An artist impression of The Boulevard which will be part of the new Frenchs Forest town centre, which has already been given state government approval. Picture: NSW Government

Councillors were asked to vote to submit a planning proposal for the draft LEP to Planning Minister Paul Scully for review before it moves on to the next stage of adoption.

As part of the draft LEP, it as was proposed to permit dual occupancy development in all “low density housing” R2 zones throughout the council area as well as in zones allowing medium density housing.

Dual occupancy means two separate dwellings built on one piece of land, under the same single title. The dwellings could be attached or detached. The option is currently not available in the old Warringah Council area.

Other proposals in the LEP include “housing diversity areas” that allow boarding houses and hostels in low density residential zones within 400 metres of local centres at Avalon, Newport, North Narrabeen, Freshwater and Belrose, subject to minimum allotment size.

The council also wants to do more to protect environmentally sensitive land on the Northern Beaches. Picture: Simon Cocksedge

A new provision for housing mix would be introduced to apply to residential flat buildings comprising 10 or more dwellings, requiring a minimum of 20pc of one-bedroom units and 20pc of three-bedroom dwellings to be included in the design.

Mayor Sue Heins commented in a statement that combining four LEPs into one was “no small task”.

“This draft LEP has been developed using the eight principles crafted with community input in our Local Strategic Planning Statement including protecting our environment, avoiding intensification and inappropriate development, safeguarding employment lands and providing adequate public open space and community facilities.

An artist's impression of a proposed 26-room boarding house on Pacific Pde at Dee Why.

“Ultimately our aim is to harmonise and extend existing provisions to create a consistent, transparent, and fair approach to land-use planning that is in keeping with our local character and place requirements.”

Council voted to submit the draft LEP for review by the Planning Department before its likely public exhibition, and call for submissions, early next year.