Vaucluse couple’s council planning battle settled for $2m home expansion, underground tunnel

Contentious plans to add a dwelling and underground tunnel to a harbourside mansion have been settled in court after two young buyers snapped up the home for a record eight-figure sum.

A concept image of the development which sparked objections from neighbours.

Two young Sydney homeowners who made headlines for forking out almost $25m on a Vaucluse mansion have won a lengthy planning stoush against their local council to add a second dwelling and underground tunnel to the property.

The Land and Environment Court has given the green light to a $2m expansion plan for the five-bedroom Vaucluse Rd home overlooking Hermet Bay after the project sparked opposition from neighbours and Woollahra Council’s planning department.

Junlin Lan and Hairu Yang spent $24.6m buying the home in 2021 – a figure that broke the then record for the most expensive house ever sold at an auction in Australia.

Two years later, Mr Lan and Ms Yang lodged plans to the council to expand the property with a second dwelling on the site.

The $2m proposal also included adding landscaping works and excavating two levels below an existing tennis court to accommodate the secondary dwelling and a car garage.

A photo of the luxurious Vaucluse home.

Plans to the council show the new dwelling will be connected to the main home via an internal subterranean tunnel and a lift

Mr Lan and Ms Yang took the case to court after the council’s planning panel refused the plans at a meeting in which several neighbours objected to the development.

Among the objectors was nearby resident Kathy Goldberg who had concerns the development could result in “excessive excavation, dust, noise and vibration” impacts.

The development application was settled in the Land and Environment Court.

The council – in refusing the proposal – also flagged concerns with the amount of excavation required to build the secondary dwelling which the council said “substantially exceeded” maximum planning standards.

The council had further objections to impacts on street parking and the proposed removal of a Port Jackson fig tree,

The court, however, agreed to the development after modifications were made to the plans including measures to sufficiently protect the tree.

The court approval came on a list of more than 50 conditions, agreed to by Woollahra Council, including the completion of demolition and construction management plan.

Traffic modelling to the court found the impacts of the development were “reasonable” due to the provision of additional parking on the site for the secondary dwelling.

Plans to the council stated the proposed development was consistent with the dwelling density in Vaucluse and would not adversely impact on the amenity and natural environment

The palatial home sits on about 1085sq m of land and includes a lap pool, tropical gardens and balconies.

Mr Lan and Ms Yang battled it out against 11 other buyers at the auction which surpassed its reserve by a whopping $10.6m.