Naremburn: Willoughby Council intervenes to halt redevelopment at St Leonards Catholic Church

A local council has intervened to halt a contentious redevelopment of a north shore church – sparking an angry response from clergy members of the century-old site. See why:

The church wants to build three-storey townhouses at the historic site.

A local council has intervened to halt a contentious redevelopment plan by a north shore church – sparking an angry response from clergy members of the century-old site.

A temporary heritage protection has been imposed on buildings within the St Leonards Catholic Church precinct in Naremburn following concerns over a $20.6 million townhouse plan for the site.

The development – proposed by the church – includes knocking down parts of the site including a parish hall and former school building to make way for 12 residential townhouses, each standing three storeys tall.

The main church building – including the prominent spire – would not be demolished as part of the proposal.

But the development is now facing an uncertain future after Willoughby councillors supported an interim heritage order on parts of the site – including the former school building.

A concept image of the development.

The order was approved by the State Government on Friday – meaning no demolition works can take place while the six month heritage order remains in place.

Church members have hit back at the move, saying the development was essential for the financial sustainability of the church.

Speaking at last week’s council meeting on behalf of the parish priest Fr Jose Philip, Diocesan financial administrator Emma McDonald urged the council not to support imposing the heritage order on the site.

The church lodged the development plans back in 2021.

Ms McDonald said the church’s ability to maintain other historic buildings on the site – including the main church building – was dependent on the redevelopment.

“To place the interim heritage order would detrimentally affect the ability of the parish to sustain the site,” she said.

“We’re looking to revitalise and reactivate the site for parishioners and the local community through the redevelopment of dilapidated and outdated structures that require significant renewal while continuing to invest in other heritage parts of the site.

A concept image of the development.

“In order to ensure the conservation and the preservation of the site, is the ability for the parish to partner with a developer to raise financial proceeds.”

A report by the council stated the interim heritage order would stop any demolition works which present a “likelihood of harm” to heritage elements of the site.

The protection order will remain in place for six months and will allow for further investigation into the heritage significance of the buildings.

After the six month period, the council could then take steps to list all buildings within the site as local heritage items.

The interim heritage order was approved by the State Government on Friday.

A final say on the development proposal will be made in the Land and Environment Court after the church lodged an appeal against Willoughby Local Planning Panel’s refusal of the development last year.

A spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay - which has partnered with Metro Property Development on the development project - said the appeal would be “put on hold” while the interim heritage order is in place.

“The parish is considering challenging the interim heritage order that has been issued on the site.

“If challenged, and that challenge were to be successful, the parish would still progress with seeking an approval of the development application currently lodged in the in the courts.

“The interim heritage order stifle the development plans for a period of up to 12 months. However, a delay of this nature is also likely to cause our development partner to walkway from the site in which case we would be back to square one,” she said.

“Should an official heritage listing of the existing school building take place, the site will remain derelict and undeveloped indefinitely.”