Double Bay urban design strategy: Woollahra council considers opposing NSW affordable housing incentives

An eastern suburbs politician has shared concerns that Sydney’s ritzy Double Bay could explode in height as a result of the NSW Government’s plan to provide incentives for affordable housing.

A strategy to define future development at Double Bay is in its final stages. NSW Real Estate.

Concerns Sydney’s ritzy Double Bay could explode in height as a result of the NSW Government’s plan to provide incentives for affordable housing, sparking a debate in a Woollahra Council committee meeting.

The council’s strategic and corporate committee discussed the possibility of calling for an exemption from the new guidelines in the state’s environmental planning policies which would give developers a 30 per cent height bonus to include affordable housing in residential projects.

Liberal councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis said she was concerned Woollahra Council’s urban strategy, which had been 10 years in the making, would see the planned 4-6 storey height limit rise to eight stories as a result of the state government legislation.

“Despite 10 years of work to get to the strategy in Double Bay, the government has seen fit to make an election announcement that they were going to provide affordable housing by offering incentives to developers to extend building heights and floor space,” she said.

The strategy is focused on retaining heritage buildings while raising height limits in some areas. Picture: Woollahra Council.

Picture: Woollahra Council.

“I do not believe the Double Bay centre can sustain that level of height. I am very much for and identify the need for affordable housing but we’ve been working on a strategy at Edgecliff that can facilitate this.”

Woollahra Council is currently developing a masterplan for the Edgecliff commercial centre set to involve affordable housing and increased density, in line with the NSW Government’s vision to increase housing at public transport hubs.

Liberal councillor Mary-Lou Jarvis. Picture: Gaye Gerard.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: Nikki Short.

“We have got to be very careful about allowing this to go forward if [the Minns policy] goes forward,” Ms Jarvis said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns earlier this year announced changes to fast-track approvals for housing developments valued at $75m and above which also include 15 per cent affordable housing.

Developments that qualify would get access to a “state significant development” pathway that would fast-track approvals, as well as a bonus 30 per cent height and floor space extension.

Liberal councillor Toni Zeltzer said it was unlikely low-cost housing would arise in Double Bay due to the difficulty in pricing apartments at a lower cost in one of the city’s most expensive suburbs.

“I don’t necessarily think the government’s going to assign Double Bay to produce [affordable housing],” Ms Zeltzer said.

Residents First councillor Harriet Price said councils should debate the state legislation at the Local Government conference later this year but did not think it should be formalised in the council’s planning strategy.

The committee resolved to defer endorsing the updated urban design strategy subject to clarifications by council staff on areas of contention.

The updated strategy will next be taken to the Woollahra local planning panel and then the full council meeting on November 27.