194 Oxford Street Bondi Junction: Westgate BJ development application revealed

The long-awaited $42m plans for controversial twin towers which will overlook Centennial Parklands have been submitted. FIRST LOOK AT THE PLANS.

A developer who controversially had planning controls altered to allow a pair of high-rises to overshadow Centennial Parklands has now submitted a development application even higher than the tweaked controls allow.

The site on the corner of Nelson and Oxford streets was first slated for development way back in 2015 when the then Waverley Council controls stipulated the maximum height limit was 15m.

A battle was waged over the 194 Oxford Street site inciting significant backlash and the formation of community action group Save West Bondi Junction.

View of the proposal approaching Oxford Street and York Road

The overshadowing of the project on Centennial Parklands as of 21 June 2020 at 9am

But Westgate BJ Pty Ltd in 2019 ultimately had its planning proposal to increase the height limit to 36m approved by the NSW government’s Department of Planning Industry and Environment.

The approved planning proposal also allows for an increase in the floor space ratio from 1.5:1 to 3.5:1 and to remove the heritage listing from four terrace houses.

The crowd at the rally against the proposed development in 2017.

The move forced Waverley Council, who bitterly opposed the development, to adopt a site specific Development Control Plan late last year.

However, the freshly lodged development application has revealed Westgate BJ intend to try to convince the Sydney Eastern Planning Panel to let them build even higher than the new 36m control after submitting a proposal which stands at 38.95m.

An artist impression looking west from Nelson St

The towers will each have ground floor retail, a combined total of 73 residential apartments over 10 storeys and 3-4 levels of basement parking.

In new documents lodged with Waverley Council, the developer argues the plans, which were developed by SJB who won a design excellence competition, “will promote the social and economic welfare of the local community”.

Westgate BJ also argue the extra height is warranted.

“This variation is imperative in facilitating equitable access to rooftop communal open space in the Oxford Street tower, private open space in the Nelson Street tower and rooftop plant structures,” the documents read.

“The variations do not comprise habitable floorspace.”

Looking east down Oxford St

And looking west down Oxford St

Waverley mayor Paula Masselos was part of a delegation to the then Planning Minister in 2018 asking him to block the planning proposal.

“I have not seen the DA these are not comments on the DA, but this is a position I have on the planning proposal and it reflects my comments I have already made on the floor of council,” Mayor Masselos said.

“This planning proposal absolutely went against all principles that were within the Local Environment Plan.

“This planning proposal is a complete folly. It is not only flying in the face of the LEP and planning instruments but it is an insult to the community because it is not respecting the fact it is in a heritage conservation zone.

“The planning proposal is a blatant example of over development. I think this is an example of why planning powers should be returned to councillors.

“We are the ones who know our community.”

The public have until November 10 to make a submission on the proposal.

Westgate BJ did not respond to a request for comment from the Wentworth Courier.