Merrylands: Request to add more units to former John Cootes furniture site

Developers are keen to transform a former western Sydney furniture store site with even more apartments but the plans have been criticised for failing to address a lack of affordable housing.

Developers want to lob scores of more apartments onto the former John Cootes furniture store site at Merrylands but a panel has recommended the proposal be rejected amid criticism there is a shortage of affordable housing planned for the complex.

Formally known as the Merrylands East Local Centre or Merrylands Village, Green Dior Holdings wants to increase the number of dwellings to 60, taking it to 485 apartments.

It also wants to see the number of larger, three-bedroom units leap from 55 to 146 to cater for families living at the Woodville Rd, Lansdowne St and Highland St site.

In a planning proposal to come before Cumberland Council on Wednesday, Green Dior Holdings requests an amendment for the height to go from 31m to 38m in the Cumberland Local Environmental Plan so it can build more apartments including affordable housing, and add commercial space and shops.

Requests include two extra storeys to each building that would see them reach up to 10 storeys. An initial request to seek buildings up to 13 storeys was trimmed after negative community feedback to the council.

An increase in the number of affordable housing units dedicated to the council was planned to almost double from eight to 15.

There was also a proposal to expand the ground level shops by 1555sq m, making it 11,610sq m in total.

The former John Cootes site at Merrylands. Officially known as the Merrylands East Local Centre.

But the Cumberland Local Planning Panel recommends the council to refuse the extra units and shops. Instead, it wants the proposal to be considered under the council’s Woodville Road Corridor.

The panel said it was “premature” because the State Government has not yet signed off on the council’s Woodville Road Planning Corridor.

Former Merrylands resident Dave Burrows, who was forced out of the suburb because of soaring rent, criticised the number of units allocated for affordable housing.

“I would say none of what they’re proposing is going to solve the housing and rental crisis,’’ he said.

“They’re just providing more unaffordable housing that’s actually not going to meet people’s needs. I don’t think it’s in the community’s needs.’’

The approved project contains a 100-place childcare centre, 95 serviced apartments, a 3800sq m supermarket, public park and landscaping along with two levels of basement parking.

Building heights could increase but the request is recommended for refusal.

Dave Burrows at the John Cootes site in 2018. Picture: David Swift

Public transport advocate Roydon Ng called for better links for residents who will live along the busy road.

“Development would best be carefully reviewed as part of council’s initiated proposal for Woodville Rd and needs to include frequent public transport options,’’ he said.

The council will discuss the plans at its meeting on Wednesday night.

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Originally published as Merrylands: Request to add more units to former John Cootes furniture site