St Leonards: Altis Property Partners lodge plans to turn nine homes into 130 units

Plans to turn nine residential homes into 130 high rise units on Sydney’s lower north shore has sparked fears the development could cause traffic mayhem.

A concept image of the 10 storey development.

Plans to turn nine residential homes into 130 high rise units on Sydney’s lower north shore has sparked fears the development could overshadow neighbouring properties and cause traffic mayhem.

Residents in St Leonards have raised concerns over new development plans for two 10-storey towers at 12-20 Berry Rd and 11-19 Holdsworth Ave.

The $78 million proposal by developer Altis Property Partners includes bulldozing nine existing low rise homes to make way for 130 units.

Plans show the development would include an outdoor kids play area with an ‘enchanted forest’, basement carparking with 180 spaces, 3200sq m of landscaping works, and a pedestrian link running through the site.

A yoga lawn, childcare facilities and a community centre are also planned at the site.

The development would have 130 units.

But the release of plans has sparked objections from neighbouring residents due the scope of the proposal and the removal of 66 trees required for the development.

St Leonards resident Anita Jubian has written to Lane Cove Council calling for the proposal to be rejected due to concerns including impacts on already congested local roads.

A concept image of the development. Concept plans of the St Leonards development

Plans have been lodged to Lane Cove Council.

“The development would have adverse impacts on the environment, shadowing of public areas, traffic, parking infrastructure, draining and services,” she wrote.

“Residents are already affected by congestion on River Rd and traffic will see a marked increase from this development.”

Neighbour Susan Ma said St Leonards was already undergoing major development pressure.

“Currently St Leonards has (become) far overdeveloped which has caused traffic blocking, population and high rise buildings and explosive growth in our surroundings,” she said. “I strongly object to such overdevelopment.”

Neighbours have raised concerns over the proposal.

A concept image of the development

Plans for the development state the project would support housing demand in the area and provide community benefits including the community centre.

“The development will provide for Lane Cove’s housing needs in a high density residential environment,” the plans state.

“There is a priority on the social (facilities) resulting in a number of key gathering spaces, communal spaces as well as enlarged lift lobbies to promote informal interactions.”

The proposal is the latest development earmarked for the St Leonards South precinct that is currently defined by a suburban mix of one and two-storey homes extending from the Pacific Hwy in the north to River Rd in the south.

Other recent plans lodged for the precinct include 319 units on the corners of Canberra Ave and Holdsworth Ave, 104 units on the corner of Marshall Ave and Holdsworth Ave, a 13-storey building at 13-19 Canberra Ave and 245 units on Berrys Rd, River Rd and Holdsworth Ave.

Altis Property Partners was contacted for comment about the development but did not respond at the time of publication.

The proposal remains under assessment by Lane Cove Council.