Cremorne: Decision on Cranbrook Ave heritage home proposal

A court has handed down its decision on a contentious development plan to knock down a 101-year-old home on Sydney’s north after sparking a litany of complaints from surrounding residents and homeowners.

Residents including neighbour Graham Dawson have rallied to save the home since 2017.

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A developer has lost a longwinded court battle to demolish a heritage-listed home on Sydneys’s north shore after sparking a litany of complaints from residents and council planners.

The Land Environment Court has handed down its verdict into the contentious redevelopment bid to knock down the inter-war bungalow at 24 Cranbrook Ave in Cremorne as part of a $880,000 planning proposal lodged to North Sydney Council.

The home, listed as a local heritage item, has stood in the suburb for 101 years and is recognised for its links to architect Edwin R Orchard who designed a list of other heritage homes across Sydney.

The home would have been demolished under the proposal.

Developer Modog had proposed to turn the three-bedroom home into a three level building and lodged the legal challenge last year after the application was rejected by the council on the grounds it “did not support the demolition of heritage items.”

The proposal was met with 55 submissions from residents with objections centred on the loss of heritage along with potential impacts on overshadowing and privacy.

Neighbour Graham Dawson told the Mosman Daily the design of redevelopment had the potential to drastically change the character of the local streetscape.

An artist’s impression of the development.

“We were all in a shock when we saw the plans – it’s a heritage listed building and has a long history,” he said.

“A lot of neighbours felt (the proposal) wasn’t in keeping with other buildings in the area – including five other heritage properties on the same street.

“I know there’s a development push to support Sydney’s growing population but we shouldn’t lose our heritage as part of that. It’s important to maintain the character of our neighbourhoods.”

An inside look of the home.

The appeal came after the council placed an lnterim Heritage Order over the property in 2017 after plans for an 11 storey tower on the site was met with a petition by neighbours with some labelling the design of the building as “Trumpesque”.

Lawyers for the council said demolition plans under the new proposal would “destroy the significance of the home” and told the court it “should be very reticent to grant a development approval which will permit demolition of a heritage listed item.”

Modog, however, argued the significance of the home had been over-exaggerated, adding the property did not meet the threshold for preservation under NSW Heritage guidelines.

A concept plan of the previous building proposed on the site.

“The listing of a simplistic bungalow is tantamount to a tainting of the integrity of the heritage assessment system and a severe lowering of what ought to be considered ‘heritage significance’ in North Sydney,” development plans stated.

In handing down her judgment on Wednesday, court commissioner Danielle Dickson said the “modest and grand houses” of the local area should be preserved for future generations.

“The demolition of the dwelling would have a significant, irreversible, detrimental impact,” she said in her ruling.

“I am satisfied that the impact is such that it warrants refusal of the application.”

Council figures show $11,822 was spent in legal fees defending the appeal as of June this year.

The Mosman Daily has contacted Modog for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.