St Leonards, Crows Nest redevelopment: developers hit out over reduced building heights
Developers have dismissed the NSW Government’s vision to overhaul a possible high-rise housing powerhouse precinct after final plans dramatically reduced building heights for the Sydney suburb. SEE THE PLANS HERE.
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It was the ambitious vision to transform St Leonards and Crows Nest into a series of tree-lined boulevards made up of public open spaces and increased employment zones.
But shell-shocked developers say the newly-released government plan will be nothing but a “pipedream”.
This week, Planning Minister Rob Stokes released the State Government’s finalised 2036 St Leonards and Crows Nest Plan, earmarking the creation of “greener, better connected and vibrant” town centres.
Mr Stokes said more than $78 million, secured through developer contributions, would see the creation of new public open spaces, the planting of more than 2000 trees, major increases to commercial zones and new education facilities to transform the region.
All of which was to happen while imposing a 10 per cent reduction in the number of proposed dwellings and reduced building heights.
“The community told us they wanted more green space that enhanced local neighbourhoods, and a plan that provided certainty on what future development will look like and where it will be,” Mr Stokes said. “We have listened, with significant changes made to the final plan to ensure St Leonards and Crows Nest will be a greener, thriving employment hub with better transport and pedestrian connections for local residents, workers and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”
Under the newly-established Planning Delivery Unit’s final plan for the future of the North Sydney hub, building heights between the two Metro station sites in Crows Nest and St Leonards have been capped to range between 13 and 23 storeys. While a landmark site a 601 Pacific Highway will now tower to 42-storeys, rather than a previous height of 61.
However, Urban Taskforce chief executive Tom Forrest hit out at the government blueprints, labelling it a “recipe for stagnation”.
“While Sydney is crying out for private sector investment to boost our economy, this plan makes redeveloping the “Strategic Sites” along the Crows Nest to St Leonards corridor a pipedream”, Mr Forrest said.
“The practical result of this plan is that this tacky run-down wind tunnel will sit idle for years to come because the feasibility for development is just not there with the height and development controls proposed in the plan.”
A total of $116 million in Special Infrastructure Contributions from developers would be required to make the government’s plan a reality. But Mr Forrest forecast the region will become unfeasible for developers — due to the reduced building height limits — meaning the funds wouldn’t be delivered.
“It’s ironic that the government spent $14 billion on a rail line to give Sydney an opportunity to grow its density and service that increased density and yet in Crows Nest St Leonard’s they’ve done the opposite — they haven’t delivered the density,” he said.
“This plan will ensure that the mattress warehouses which dominate the landscape at ground level will be an ongoing feature of the Pacific Highway strip.
“This is a missed opportunity to deliver employment, new homes and a new look for Crows Nest – St Leonards.”
The final plans for were released to the public on Monday.