Kensington to Kingsford council strategy to face scrutiny

Plans for towers of up to 18-storeys at Kensington and Kingsford will be put to the public again to see how the community responds to the idea of bigger town centres.

An artist’s impression of how the corner of Anzac Pde and Meeks St would look as part of Randwick Council's Kensington to Kingsford planning strategy

• Cancer collides with wedding plans
• Light rail development strategy ‘in right direction’
• South Sydney Rabbitohs saviour dies
• $380,000 in parking fines from one Randwick street
• Push to scrap cycleway

Plans for towers of up to 18-storeys at Kensington and Kingsford will be put to the public again to see how the community responds to the idea of bigger town centres.

Randwick councillors on Tuesday will vote on whether to advance the $300 million Kensington to Kingsford (K2K) Draft Planning Strategy, also known as a rezoning, to public exhibition for feedback.

How high developers wanted to take Kensington and Kingsford. Picture: Supplied

The changes would allow towers of up to 18 storeys at Todman Square, Kensington, and Kingsford mid-town. Towers of up to 17 storeys would be allowed around the Nine Ways at Kingsford. Developers had pushed for more than 20 storeys.

However, towers of up to nine storeys would be the limit for the majority of properties in both town centres. The current limit is seven storeys.

The many people expected to arrive at Kensington and Kingsford by the fledgling light rail route has been a catalyst to rethink the town centres.

K2K had been the subject of a back-and-forth with the Department of Planning since the council drafted it in late 2016, following an international urban design competition.

Disagreements over the number of dwellings and the council’s Community Infrastructure Contributions (CIC) — an extra charge on developers to help deliver $80 million in community space — had been the sticking point.

In December the department issued a reviewed gateway determination accepting council’s CIC, but asked to redraft the planning proposal for clarity on its intention before the it goes before the council. The department also backed down on its call to add an extra 600 dwellings to the 1500 new homes proposed by the council.

Work along the light rail on Anzac Pde between Kensington and Kingsford in February. Picture: Dylan Robinson

The council would increase levies on developers through the CIC, which would help fund eight plazas, more parking, a community centre, 200 affordable housing homes and more.

The staff believe the plans have the right balance between controlling development and encouraging investment.

Kingsford Chamber of Commerce president Peter Schick said he hoped more parking, and the beautification of the town centres, could be provided.

“These suburbs are having a hard time due to the light rail work,” he said.

Kingsford Chamber of Commerce president Peter Schick. Picture: Quentin Jones

He said the parking removed from Anzac Pde meant Kingsford was short of customer parking.

“Any progress, beautification or parking, would be welcome.

“For the sake of the businesses, we would like to see these plans resolved as soon as possible.”

If councillors vote for the plans, the public will have six weeks to review them and give feedback.

The State Government has so far endorsed the K2K strategy but will have the final say.