Berry housing development of 150 homes proposed by Shoalhaven City Council

The popular tourist town of Berry could be home to 150 properties if a proposal to subdivide a block of land gets the green light.

A rezoning of land is being proposed at Berry for the development of 150 homes. Picture: Shoalhaven Council

A new housing development is being proposed at Berry, with as many as 150 homes planned to be constructed if rezoning of vacant land is successful.

Shoalhaven City Council is seeking community feedback on the proposal to rezone 11 hectares of land south of Hitchcocks Lane.

A Shoalhaven Council spokesman said the proposal for rezoning the land, which is on the western side of the Princes Highway, adjacent to the Huntingdale Park residential estate, is open for public comment until January 8 next year.

“Berry is a very popular place to visit and to move to, and state and local strategic plans identify this land as a potential location for housing growth,” Shoalhaven Mayor Amanda Findley said.

“We also know the local community wants to protect the character qualities that make Berry such an attractive place.

The area under proposal has been earmarked as a growth area. Picture: Shoalhaven City Council

“The proposals are at a point where the Berry community can have their say on them before they are finalised and enable more detailed future residential subdivision applications.

“Any feedback received will be considered by council as part of the finalisation of the Planning Proposal and development control plan.”

The land has been identified by council as a “potential growth area” as part of the Shoalhaven Growth Strategy, and the Planning Proposal seeks to rezone the rural land to an R2 Low Density Residential zone.

Cr Findley said the new zoning would allow for mostly detached single homes.

The proposed changes to the local environmental plan would allow subdivision of the land into up to approximately 150 new housing lots, ranging in size from 700sq m to 350sq m, the spokesman said.

The vView looking east from Lineal Park in Huntingdale Park Estate. Land proposed to be rezoned at Hitchcocks Lane is in the background. Picture: Shoalhaven Council

“Allowing for a limited amount of smaller lots is intended to encourage smaller homes to provide more housing choices and opportunities for the local community,” he said.

“Providing a mix of lots sizes encourages housing variety, including two, three and four-bedroom homes to cater for a wide range of household needs and aspirations.”

The council is also seeking feedback on a draft development control plan to support the proposed zoning changes and “promote high quality design outcomes”.

“The draft development control plan focuses on promoting development that is compatible with Berry’s local character while also protecting the distinctive landscape views of the area,” council said.

“The draft planning controls include the provision of landscape screening on the southern and eastern edges of the land, while also increasing landscaping opportunities within the future subdivision.”