City of Sydney adopts plan to 'preserve' Kings Cross

City of Sydney has adopted a plan to stave off overdevelopment of Sydney's former nightlife hotspot Darlinghurst Rd, a move welcomed by Keep Sydney Open.

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Once the beating heart of Sydney's night-life, Darlinghurst Rd has become a ghost town and the target of residential developers in the post-lockout laws era.

But in the hope that it could one day be revived, City of Sydney Council has adopted a plan that would stave off overdevelopment and bring back bars, eateries and live music to the Kings Cross strip between Macleay St and Bayswater Rd.

The council has adopted its Darlinghurst Rd development control plan, which Lord Mayor Clover Moore said would "preserve the unique character" of Potts Point by demanding half of floor space in new developments be used for commercial purposes and keeping new buildings within existing height limits.

Show Girls in Kings Cross. Picture: Christian Gilles

Cr Moore said it would ensure new developments would "respect the history" of a precinct featuring the sites of iconic hotels, and famous Kings Cross nightspots including Showgirls, Dreamgirls and Porky's.

"We need to make sure that Darlinghurst Rd remains a lively and exciting place for residents and visitors and strikes the right balance between commercial activity and residential development," she said.

"Through extensive consultation with the community we have heard from residents, businesses and landowners who want more restaurants and cafes, live music venues, small bars, nightclubs, specialist shops, food shops and corner stores, as well as hotels and residential development."

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the plan would encourage diverse land uses in Kings Cross. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Keep Sydney Open's Tyson Koh said the move was a "step in the right direction" for local business owners who had suffered through Kings Cross' demise, but said its future was still uncertain.

Mr Koh said the council had "done its part" but the precinct's survival would depend heavily on the will of the State Government.

"I think the future of Kings Cross is going to look very different to how it did in the past," he said.

"I'd like to see a Kings Cross that has more entertainment and music at its core, and see it being enjoyed by everyone — not just those who are wealthy enough to live there."

Mr Koh again called on the State to revise restrictions — including the lockout laws — that had seen a "complete gutting of confidence" in entertainment and small business in the inner city.

Tyson Koh from Keep Sydney Open Party. Picture: Monique Harmer

The Darlinghurst Rd precinct is made up of 49 small-scale commercial properties all about three to four-storeys in height.

The controls adopted by the council will include encouraging a minimum 50 per cent of floor space in developments on the strip to be set aside for uses other than residential or accommodation.

There would be no residential or serviced apartments located on the ground floor of the street, apart from entrances and administration.

A very quiet Kings Cross this morning at Darlinghurst and Bayswater roads in 2018. Picture: Gordon McComiskie

Guidelines set out in the plan for the redevelopment of several sites at 18-32a Darlinghurst Rd, including the Bourbon, Commodore and Empire hotels and Kingsley Hall, declare each lot would need to be designed as five distinct buildings.

Facades of the Bourbon Hotel and the Lowestoft would need to be preserved under any redevelopment.

During consultation some shop owners and residents spoke of their desire to "run down" buildings redeveloped, and said they would welcome higher buildings where appropriate.

Many also said moving the supervised injecting room from 64-66A Darlinghurst Rd closer to the hospital would improve safety on the streets.