Turramurra: Developer lodges major high rise plans for town centre Pacific Hwy site

A north shore town centre could be transformed with plans for more than 200 units across three towers, including one which would stand almost three times above the local height limit.

A concept image of the development.

An upper north shore town centre would be transformed with three towers standing up to 15 storeys tall as part of a proposal critics fear could change the character of the suburb.

Ku-ring-gai Council’s planning panel has raised concerns over a 248-unit and commercial development proposed in the Turramurra town centre that would stand almost three times above the current height limit.

The planning proposal at 1364-1392 Pacific Hwy and 1, 1A and 3A Kissing Point Road includes two 10-storey towers and one 15-storey building.

The development would involve increasing the height limit from 17.5m to 50m.

Developer Turra Developments Pty Ltd, in its plans, state the development would “revitalise” the site into a “lively mixed use precinct” with a supermarket, a medical centre, retail areas, restaurants and 650-car parks.

A concept image of the development.

The plan includes public open space and a new park that Turra Developments Pty Ltd said would “promote social interaction between community members”.

The council’s planning panel has raised concerns the development would be at odds with the planning vision for the town centre which promotes retaining the low scale character of the main street shops on the Pacific Hwy and Rohini St.

A site overview of the proposal.

The height of development, according to the panel, could also overshadow the proposed new public park, and an inadequate number of units would achieve the minimum of two hours of sunlight per day

“The scale of the proposal would not demonstrate a high-quality development resulting in poor amenity to units and proposed public space,” the panel added.

The panel unanimously voted on a recommendation for Ku-ring-gai Council to not submit the proposal to the Department of Planning and Environment for a Gateway Determination.

The recommendation is due to be voted on by councillors at a meeting later this month.

The development would stand up to 15 storeys tall.

If councillors support the recommendation, Turra Developments Pty Ltd would still have an opportunity to progress the development by submitting a rezoning review to the Department of Planning.

Charlie New, who manages the Trek Bikes store on the Pacific Hwy, had mixed thoughts on the proposal.

“With any development it’s always good to renew old and deteriorating sites, however any big development should consider the surrounding buildings and residents.

“At the moment there’s nothing more than two storeys in the town centre so a building seven times the size of that would be a departure.” 

Turra Developments Pty Ltd, in its plans, said the development would provide additional employment opportunities and housing within the town centre, and could improve traffic flow around the site by upgrading surrounding roads.

Five per cent of all residential units would be affordable rental housing for low income households.

Plans state “urban renewal is essential to meet the demand for new housing in Sydney.” and the development would help meet an “undersupply” of apartments in the council area.

Councillors are due to consider the proposal at a meeting on February 14.