Lindfield Coles redevelopment: 70 units, liquor store
Retail giant Coles has been given the green light to rebuild its supermarket outlet in Lindfield along with 70 new units — marking the latest in a string of high-rise buildings earmarked for the town centre.
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Retail giant Coles has been given the green light to rebuild its supermarket outlet at Lindfield with 70 new units after launching a legal challenge against Ku-ring-gai Council.
Plans for the six-storey building show the redeveloped site will include an expanded supermarket, a new Liquorland store, coffee shop, office spaces and upper floor apartments on the corner of the Pacific Hwy and Balfour St.
The project was approved in the Land and Environment Court and marks the latest in a string of high-rise buildings earmarked for the traditionally low-density town centre.
Coles launched legal action after initial plans were rejected by Ku-ring-gai Council due to impacts including the 20.5m building height overshadowing the nearby Holy Family Catholic Primary School.
Coles argued the height of the building was “consistent” with future developments proposed in the town centre.
The company also agreed to build a 2.1m fence on the boundary with the school and “privacy screens” on unit balconies overlooking the school grounds.
Plans show the supermarket will maintain its 6am to midnight trading hours, employ up to 140 staff, and will have 249 underground retail carparks.
Balfour Lane, located behind the supermarket, will be rebuilt further west to provide carpark access and pedestrian use “for the school, church and other users”.
The project comes amid a string of new supermarket developments across the north shore including a Woolworths in Chatswood East due to open by 2021, a Coles and Aldi at Lane Cove in 2020 and a proposed Woolworths store at Mosman.
Submissions from residents raised concerns about “too many supermarkets” appearing in the area; however, Coles said the project would involve redeveloping the existing outlet, rather than creating an additional store.
“The benefits provided by the proposed development outweigh any potential impacts and is therefore in the public interest,” the plans stated.
“The development also provides a mix of non-residential space and dwellings which cater to the needs of the public and future residents, is visually appealing and will contribute to the sense of community in the locality.”
Land and Environment Court commissioner Peter Walsh in his ruling said the height of the development was appropriate for the town centre.
“I am directly satisfied that the proposed development will be in the public interest because it is consistent with the objectives … for development of the zone,” he said.
“(It has) good public transport access and which can provide for housing, employment and for a range of services for local residents and others.”
Plans show office spaces will be included in the heritage listed Churches Restaurant building at 390 Pacific Hwy.
The existing Coles car park will be closed for up to 26 months during construction periods.