St Leonards: Berrys Rd, River Rd and Holdsworth Ave high-rise redevelopment plans revealed

Residents say they are selling-up in anticipation of a major development boom set to transform the suburb as new plans are revealed to demolish 14 homes to make way for a massive high-rise unit complex. SEE WHAT’S PLANNED:

Two streets and 14 homes on Sydney’s lower north shore could soon be transformed into more than 200 units as part of the next major development planned for St Leonards.

Developers CIFI St Leonards Pty Ltd and Greaton St Leonards Holdings have lodged a $138 million proposal to build five buildings standing up to nine storeys tall on a block of land bordered by Berrys Rd, River Rd and Holdsworth Ave.

The development would have 245 units across the entire site, along with communal open space, a swimming pool, kids paddle pool, a public walkway, and 418 carparks.

A concept plan of the development.

Plans show one of the buildings would stand three storeys tall, three would stand eight storeys tall and one would top out at nine storeys.

The proposal is the latest suburb-shaping development earmarked for the St Leonards South precinct that is set to become home to 3600 new residents across 2000 apartments over the next 10 years.

The precinct 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.

The development will include communal parks.

Developers, in plans to Lane Cove Council, said the project would provide new housing for the region and include benefits such as 2411 sqm of open space.

“The development will increase the amount and variety of housing within proximity of public transport and services (and) meet the changing demographic and housing needs of the community,” it said.

The proposal has been met with concern from residents including the cumulative impacts of other developments planned in the suburb including 319 units on the corners of Canberra Ave and Holdsworth Ave, 104 units on the corner of Marshall Ave and Holdsworth Ave, and a 13 storey tall building at 13-19 Canberra Ave.

A photo of the current St Leonards South precinct.

Some residents have already moved out of the suburb in anticipation of the development boom including David Kelly who sold his Marshall Ave unit earlier this year after plans emerged for a 12 storey tower directly in front of his home.

“When we bought into the area in 2016 we had an outlook of the sky and the city outline and from my balcony everything in front of me was two storey units. It was supposed to be where I could retire,” he said.

“It’s causing people to leave, and when you look at all the developments put together people aren’t going to be able to see the sky anymore.

The development would stand up to nine storeys tall.

“The traffic studies were flawed and the whole area is going to be a gridlock of cars. It’ll be worse than Green Square.”

Lane Cove councillor Merri Southwood said existing services such as schools, hospitals and roads could come under additional strain from the future population boom.

“If they’re all built together the concern is traffic, dust, and sediment control because almost all of the developments will involve excavation and cutting into the slope of the land,” she said.

“We’ve only had a taste of what it’s like with the developments already underway (in the suburb) – River Rd and Greenwich Rd in peak hour are at gridlock and it’s a sign of things to come.”

Merri Southwood (centre) said the development could have a major impact on local residents.

Other features of the latest development proposal include barbecue areas, outdoor working spaces and a community lounge with picnic seatings.

The plans are currently under assessment by Lane Cove Council and are open for public feedback.

The release of plans comes as the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal earlier this year supported Lane Cove Council’s plan to levy $54 million from developers in “special infrastructure contributions” unique to the St Leonards South Precinct.

The levy is charged per unit built and equates to $28,972 for an average two bedroom apartment and will be used to cover the costs building a new park, along with road and stormwater upgrades.