Pymble Golf Club, Cowan Road, St Ives: Developers bypass council refusal for residential towers

A contentious plan to transform one of Sydney’s “premier golf courses” into a residential village with a series of multi-storey towers has been revived. See what it means here.

Pymble Golf Club in St Ives.

Developers behind a controversial vision to transform a prestigious upper north shore golf club into a bustling village – featuring a series of multi-storey residential towers – have made a last-ditch effort to see the plans realised, sidestepping a council rejection of the plans.

Pymble Golf Club has called for the NSW Planning Department to green-light a proposal to see five residential towers, ranging up to five storey in height, be approved for the street frontage of its home at Cowan Road, St Ives, despite Ku-ring-gai Council refusing to support the plans be realised in May.

The refusal came in the face of a recommendation from the Ku-ring-gai Local Planning Panel, which called for councillors to approve the proposal for Gateway Determination by the NSW Government in April.

Pymble Golf Club housing plans.

“Prior to the matter being recommended to council, the panel advises that further clarification be sought to justify the inconsistency with the local strategic planning statement and the Ku-ring-gai housing strategy,” panel members said.

Developers representing the golf club submitted a rezoning review application, following the rejection from council, arguing the redevelopment of the site will result in an “upgrade of the site facilities and amenities” and “contribute to the choice of housing available” in St Ives.

What the residential towers could look like.

“The proposal (will see the) provision of high quality, high density residential housing, comprising generously sized and well-appointed two- and three-bedroom apartments,” planners for the project said. “(as well as) housing set amongst a landscaped garden setting to respect the existing character of the site, and the desired future character of the St Ives local centre.”

Pymble Golf Club opened to members in 1926, while the full 18 holes were completed in 1928.

Historical pics of Pymble Golf Club in the 1930s

The Ku-ring-gai planning statement identifies a 25 per cent increase in the population of Ku-ring-gai to approximately 155,000 by 2036, with “future housing supply” earmarked for Gordon, Lindfield, Turramurra, and St Ives.

The NSW Planning Department will now determine whether the proposal is granted Gateway Determination.