Wentworthville: Units for 12-14 Pritchard St East put on hold
For the first time since the 1950s a big parcel of land at Wentworthville won’t be home to medical services if plans for units are approved.
Parramatta
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Plans to build a six-storey unit block where a GP’s and physiotherapy service stood for decades at Wentworthville have been deferred over lack of privacy and poor design.
On Wednesday, the Cumberland Independent Hearing Panel shelved a determination for the 28-unit complex at 12-14 Pritchard St East.
Applicant Antoine Saouma has proposed the apartments to be built over shops and a 55-space, two-level basement carpark.
But panel chairman Paul Stein pointed out flaws and said there were opportunities for layouts to be reconfigured.
In one example, three bedrooms joined the common wall with adjoining dwellings’ living areas, in design that flouted Apartment Design Guide’s requirements.
“My view is that ... the internal layout isn’t very good design and that the layout should be such that we’re moving those quiet rooms away from the noisy rooms, particularly in adjoining dwellings,’’ Mr Stein said.
“The way that’s drawn we could have someone laying their head down on one side of the wall and a 75-inch TV with a soundbar on the other side of the wall.’’
Town planner Brad Delapierre, who spoke on behalf of the applicant, agreed and suggested a redesign could include a walk-in wardrobe to “buffer” the separation of two communal walls.
“There’s always opportunities to refine and improve designs but, as the panel’s aware, it’s not uncommon to have bedrooms next to living areas in some units because as we’re all aware it’s a challenge in any site to have an apartment building with every unit having the optimal conditions suggested by the ADG,’’ he said.
There were also concerns about poor lighting and shifting balconies to improve residents’ views.
The application was first lodged with Cumberland Council last November.
The late Dr Anthony Buhagiar established the practice at 12 Pritchard St East in 1986 but previously operated on the same street since 1956.
Doctors from the practice, including Maurice Matta, then relocated to Lane St, Wentworthville, in 2017.
