Castlecrag Shopping Centre redevelopment plans approved by Sydney North Planning Panel despite objections from residents

A battle over the future of a north shore town centre has come to a head, with a planning panel approving a multi-storey redevelopment of a shopping centre despite claims of “catastrophic” consequences.

A concept image of the development.

A battle over the future of a north shore town centre has been settled, with plans for a multi-storey redevelopment of the suburb’s main shopping centre approved despite fears it will create “a dog’s breakfast”.

The Sydney North Planning Panel approved a $70.6m redevelopment of the Quadrangle Shopping Village on Edinburgh Rd, in Castlecrag, following a two-hour meeting attended by residents speaking both in support and against the multi-storey proposal.

Development plans for the site show the current shopping centre will be demolished to make way for a new supermarket, shops, 38 apartments, landscaping works, and pedestrian links.

The development would stand five storeys tall and include 163 carparks, with one apartment to be offered as “affordable housing”.

The approval of the plans follows a lengthy planning process dating back more than two years, during which time the plans have sparked mixed opinions from the community.

The development will include retail areas and apartments.

Those in favour of the development have spoken of the need to revive the ageing shopping centre, while those opposed have raised concerns including the height of the development and heritage impacts.

Resident David Hayman, speaking at the planning panel meeting, said traffic congestion on Edinburgh Rd could also impact residents across the north shore suburb.

The current shopping village.

“Edinburgh Rd is the only major road in and out of Castlecrag and the effect of the giant traffic queues on residents’ ability to enter and leave their suburb will be catastrophic,” he said.

Roger Grinter, in a speech to the planning panel meeting, raised similar concerns and argued the scale of the supermarket was “an overreach for the size of the suburb”.

“The traffic and congestion it will cause will make the intersection of Eastern Valley Way and Edinburgh Rd a bit of a dog’s breakfast and create rat runs around the suburb,” he said.

Despite objections, multiple residents spoke in support of the development.

The plans were approved by the Sydney North Planning Panel.

They included David Goodrich, who said a “silent majority” of community members were in favour of the redevelopment.

“The current state of the site is really disappointing and distressing to many Castlecrag residents,” he said.

Resident Mark Crew said Castlecrag was also “not immune from bearing its responsibility” to provide new apartments to meet State Government housing targets.

“I feel we have to bear some of the responsibility to service those new community members with shopping options,” he said.

“Are we to suggest they should travel and shop elsewhere and burden other shopping precincts with traffic problems?”

The planning panel recognised there had been “considerable community debate over a preferred redevelopment of the shopping village”.

In approving the plans, the panel found the height of the development would not cause significant impacts on overshadowing or privacy.

“The application has been properly assessed against relevant planning controls (and) is suitable for the site,” the panel stated.

“Consequently, the panel believes it would be in the public interest for the proposal to be approved.”

Developer Luxcon Pty Ltd’s plans recognised the site was an “important part of Castlecrag” but stated the proposed redevelopment would revive the shopping centre and meet demand for new housing in the local area.