Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach: Court allows construction of two blocks of luxury units

After lengthy legal stoushes, a court has ruled that developers can build two multimillion-dollar blocks of units in the heart of Palm Beach. But locals say it will take away its ‘seaside character’.

An artist's impression of a 'shop top' luxury apartment complex at 1112 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach. Picture: Koichi Takada Architects

The heart of exclusive Palm Beach is set to change after cashed up developers had two big legal victories that allow them to build multimillion-dollar “shop-top” luxury apartments.

Both blocks, which will go up either side of the historic Barrenjoey House restaurant, were originally knocked back by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel for being too high and big.

Planning officials had agreed with local critics who argued that the multistorey developments, with ground floor shops or cafes, on Barrenjoey Rd would dwarf neighbouring properties and destroy the “seaside atmosphere”.

But the NSW Land and Environment Court ruled on March 14 that a $9.2m five-storey block, with five apartments, could go ahead at 1112 Barrenjoey Rd.

Just down the road at number 1102, a $13.5m, three-storey development, with five units, was granted approval by the court in December last year.

An artist's impression of a 'shop top' luxury apartment complex at 1102 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach, which has approval to be built next door to historic Barrenjoey House. Picture: Innovate Architects

The original rejected DA for this project, being pushed by tech entrepreneur Robin Khuda — Australia’s 207th richest man — received close to 100 public submissions opposing the development.

Then an amended application, knocked back in early 2023, attracted about 70 more negative submissions.

Robin Khuda, AirTrunk Founder, who is redeveloping 1102 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach. Picture: Britta Campion / The Australian

Mr Khuda, the founder of data centres operator AirTrunk, bought the now demolished old Palm Beach Fish & Chips shop, considered an iconic local eatery, for $6m to make way for the apartments.

President of the Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association, Richard West, said the building was totally out of context with the local character and a gross overdevelopment of the site.

“Development on this site has the potential of changing the entire character of Palm Beach Village,” he said.

An artist's impression of an 'shop top' luxury apartment complex at 1112 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach. Picture: Koichi Takada Architects

Mr West pointed out that the Pittwater Development Control Plan, which sets out building rules, required that “the design, scale and treatment of future development within the commercial centres will reflect a ‘seaside village’ character”.

An artist's impression of an 'shop top' luxury apartment complex at 1102 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach. Picture: Innovate Architects

Local planning officials also found that number 1112, on the site of the demolished Palm Beach Convenience Store, did not fit in with the low-density coastal character of Palm Beach.

An artist's impression of an 'shop top' luxury apartment complex at 1112 Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach, just north of Barrenjoey House. Picture: Koichi Takada Architects

There were also concerns about privacy issues for neighbours and increased traffic.

The Palm Beach & Whale Beach Association again argued that the design did not respect the area’s historical and architectural character.

But the court ruled that the project met strategic planning objectives for the area and its stepped design followed the natural topography and maintained streetscape consistency.

Originally published as Barrenjoey Rd, Palm Beach: Court allows construction of two blocks of luxury units