Gerrale St, Cronulla: Luxury exclusive apartments with shops proposed

A developer hopes “very high-end boutique retail offerings” will bring some life to heavily-used pedestrian link in Cronulla.

Developer Sammut Group is seeking approval for a mixed-use nine-storey development of 23 residential apartments and four retail tenancies at 67 Gerrale St, Cronulla at a cost of about $19m. Picture: Supplied

A luxury boutique apartment building complete with four retail tenants aimed at attracting ultra-high end clientele could be coming to Cronulla in the near future if given the green light.

Developer Sammut Group is seeking approval for a mixed-use nine-storey development of 23 residential apartments and four retail tenancies at 67 Gerrale St, Cronulla at a cost of about $19m.

The Sutherland Shire Local Planning Panel will assess and determine the application on Tuesday.

Sammut Group’s chief operating officer Julian Sammut said the proposal sought to deliver an important “missing link” for the community by providing an active connection from the station through to the beach.

“We’re proposing a project that we expect will attract some very high-end boutique retail offerings that will bring some life to the laneway and the southern end of Cronulla Mall,” he said.

Aerial photo of the location. Picture: Supplied

“It also epitomises the Sammut Group values and ethics in terms of quality, being beautifully designed, very boutique and exclusive, with the best finishes and an open-plan approach to the floor plan that celebrates its location.

“It’s an ideal spot that fronts both the beach and a park so residents will enjoy ‘never-to-be-built-out’ views – and it also gives them the benefit of having all the amenities of Cronulla right on their doorstep as it’s at the southern end of the main centre.”

Mr Sammut said he had an “open mind” with what retail tenancies would hopefully be interested in the premises.

“We expect it will attract the kind of retailer that targets an ultra-high end clientele,” he said.

The site in a prominent location in Gerrale St and also fronts Surf Lane and Beach Park Ave.

Beach Park Ave connects Cronulla Beach and South Cronulla Park to Monro Park, Cronulla St and Cronulla Station, and is a highly trafficked pedestrian area.

The current building on the site. Picture: Supplied

The development includes six two-bed and 17 three-bed apartments on eight floors above the ground floor shops.

The building will also include a roof top communal open space with pergola and seating and 54 parking spaces across three basement levels.

The existing two residential flat buildings which includes 18 apartments with above ground level parking will be demolished.

An original development application for the site was lodged with Sutherland Council in April last year before more information was requested in September.

Amended plans and additional information were lodged in February and May, with one of the main changes being a reduced building height.

Public submissions noted concerns about the suitability of the site; compatibility within the streetscape; the height, bulk and scale of the proposal along with loss of view, privacy and overshadowing and concerns about noise from the communal space and retail tenancies.

“The proposal generally achieves the objectives of the commercial centre zone by providing a range of retail/commercial and residential land uses within the Cronulla Centre, close to a high level of amenity, employment opportunities, and in a location that can promote use of public transport and active transport,” a council report to the panel states.

“The proposed retail spaces present the opportunity to strengthen the existing commercial centre and support the growing population within Cronulla.”

The proposed building height is above the 30m standard, and a council report recommends the planning panel approve the application with the height variation.