Loreto Kirribilli School gets green light for $97 million redevelopment
PLANS for a $97 million facelift of an independent girls’ school on Sydney’s lower north shore have been approved by the Independent Planning Commission.
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PLANS for a $97 million facelift of an independent girls’ school in Kirribilli were given the green light this week.
The Independent Planning Commission gave the nod to the Catholic school’s proposal for a three-stage redevelopment of its 110-year-old Carabella Street site.
The $30 million stage-one works will include the partial demolition of an existing building, construction of a new seven-storey learning hub, an extension to the gymnasium and refurbishment of an existing chapel. Separate approvals will be required for stages two and three.
North Sydney Council had expressed concerns about adverse impacts of the redevelopment on local traffic and parking, but the commission ruled the impacts of the privately funded upgrade were “acceptable”.
Loreto principal Anna Dickinson said its plans would not disturb the current local streetscape.
“We have opted to build down into the sandstone so that all new buildings are in line with or under the height of existing buildings,” Mrs Dickinson said when the proposal was unveiled last year.
Overall student numbers at Loreto, which caters for girls from kindergarten through to Year 12, are expected to increase marginally to 1130 as a result of the redevelopment.
The commission said it was “satisfied” that the school’s justification to vary the development standard, relating to maximum building heights, met with the local planning conditions.
“The built form is reasonable for the site,” it said in a statement.
“The development would not result in the loss of any threatened or vulnerable species, populations, communities or significant habitats, and would provide for new habitat opportunities.
“The development is in the public interest.”