Woolworths takes Neutral Bay supermarket development to NSW Government after council rejection

There’s a new twist in the battle over a contentious Woolworths development as locals share mixed opinions over whether the project should go ahead. Have your say in our poll.

A concept image of latest plans for the multistorey development.

Woolworths has made a fresh new bid to have a redevelopment of its Neutral Bay shopping complex approved amid ongoing opposition from residents and North Sydney Council.

The retail giant is working to bypass the council’s rejection of the multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the Woolworths outlet on Rangers Rd which would see the site transformed into a eight-storey unit and shopping hub.

If built, the development would become the town centre’s tallest retail building.

A majority of North Sydney councillors have opposed supporting the project due to the concerns over building’s height, bulk and potential traffic impacts on surrounding streets.

Neighbouring residents are also strongly opposed to the project due to concerns the development would overshadow residential homes to the south of the site.

An aerial view of the site.

Woolworths has now lodged a rezoning review of the council’s decision – meaning the Department of Planning will lead the assessment process.

The plans for the site show the existing Woolworths would be bulldozed to make for two new buildings – standing six stories and eight storeys tall – that would have 63 units and incorporate a new 3282sq m supermarket.

A concept image of the site.

The development would also have basement parking with 350 spaces, a public plaza with outdoor dining, a market square, and free Wi-Fi for visitors.

The public plaza, outdoor areas, and expanded carpark form part of a “public benefit offer” by Woolworths which is estimated to cost the company $6.6m.

The current proposal is a scaled-down version of an earlier planning proposal for the site which aimed to have 90 units and buildings up to 10 storeys within the site

North Sydney Council‘s objections to the proposal included concerns “the bulk, scale, and massing of the proposed built form is excessive in its context and does not provide an appropriate interface and transition to the low-scale residential areas immediately to the south of the site”.

The council’s planning panel has also opposed the development due to its “dominance of the public domain, overshadowing and traffic generation”.

Plans by Fabcot – the development arm of Woolworths – state the project would revive the ageing supermarket and create 143 jobs.

A Woolworths spokesman said the development would “transform an out-of-date supermarket into a vibrant community-based environment”.

“We believe our proposal is an opportunity for the urban regeneration of one of the largest parcels of land south of Military Rd,” he said in a statement.

“We’ve made major design changes based on feedback from the community and council, while still maintaining the community facilities outlined in our original proposal.

“We’re focused on delivering a successful proposal, but irrespective of the planning outcome we’ll continue to serve our customer base in the local area through the ongoing trade of our supermarket.”

A concept image lodged by Fabcot.

Woolworths also conducted a community survey of 400 residents which according to the rezoning review had 57 per cent of respondents state the existing outlet was in need of upgrading, with 17 per cent labelling the existing store ‘rundown, tired, old and ugly’.

According to the survey, the primary concerns over the development were traffic impacts and concerns over “too much residential development” in the area.

The rezoning review means the proposal will now be assessed by NSW Planning delegates before a gateway determination will be decided on.

The plans come after developer Equitbuild lodged a separate planning proposal to demolish three buildings directly next to the site at the corner of Military Rd and Rangers Rd to make way for a new apartment and commercial complex standing up to 12 storeys tall.

North Sydney Council is currently working on a revised Neutral Bay Town Centre Planning Study which is likely to support lower building height limits in the town centre.