Birrell Street Bondi developer reveals new plans for more units
Developers of a four storey apartment block destined for Bondi which attracted 20 objections but was pushed through on a Land and Environment Court appeal have submitted a new proposal to increase the number of flats on the site.
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Developers of a four storey apartment block destined for Bondi which attracted 20 objections but was pushed through on a Land and Environment Court appeal have submitted a new proposal which increases the number of flats.
Right now 278-282 Birrell St is occupied by two crumbling boarding houses which rent rooms from $150 a week and a one storey, three flat block which rents units from $440 per week.
The original 18 apartment proposal was lodged by Nicholas Tang Holdings last February and was deemed to have been refused that April, a process that occurs if the applicant does not receive a timely decision, and so it was taken to the Land and Environment Court.
Waverley Council raised concerns on behalf of residents such as the loss of affordable housing from demolishing the three existing rental sites.
“Issues raised included: the overdevelopment of the site in terms of height and floor space ratio; overshadowing; visual, acoustic, view, traffic, parking, privacy, heritage, and construction impacts; impact on the streetscape and local character; tree loss; waste collection; and loss of affordable housing,” court documents state.
An agreement was ultimately reached between the parties and it was approved in March this year after the developers compromised with a reduction in height and floor space ratio noncompliance and the retention of trees.
To make up for the loss of the boarding houses, developers also consented to an affordable housing contribution $742,000 Voluntary Planning Agreement.
However documents freshly lodged with Waverley Council show developers have gone back to the drawing board and come up with a new proposal which includes two extra apartments and bumps the height up from the agreed 12.93m to 13.15m.
Local planning regulations state the site should sit at a maximum of 12.5m but developers argue neighbouring sites are similarly non compliant.
The now 20 apartment proposal will also accommodate an extra three on-site parks bringing the total to 24.
The current boarding houses do not provide on-site parking and street parking in the area is at near capacity.
Waverley Mayor Paula Masselos said access to affordable housing was an ongoing issue in the area.
“As Mayor, I am very concerned about ensuring the vitality of our neighbourhoods are preserved as they are important anchors for our community connectedness, and will continue to fight on behalf of our community to protect these values, including over development and affordable housing, as much as possible,” Mayor Masselos said.
“The state government has, over time, removed councillors’ powers to approve or refuse DAs. So while I may not agree with every decision made, as an elected member my influence is restricted to helping shape the Local Environmental Plan and Development Control Plan. I have no role in development applications.”
In the documents, developers argue the affordable housing currently on the site is not sustainable.
“It is considered that the three existing buildings should not be encouraged for use for boarding house purposes to their poor state for habitation, each requiring significant upgrades to bring the buildings up to current BCA and amenity standards,” the documents read.