Northern beaches’ town centres including Dee Why, Forestville, Mona Vale set for thousands more homes

Town centres on the northern beaches are set for thousands more home under NSW Government housing reforms, but the council wants to have a greater say in the rules that could “change the character” of some suburbs.

An artist's impression of the proposed new town square at Brookvale, next to Warringah Mall. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

A Sydney council wants to amend local planning rules so it can have a say in controversial new state government rezoning laws that could result in thousands more local flats, semis, townhouses and terraces.

The government’s Low and Mid-Rise Housing (LMR) Policy, which overrides council planning controls, allows developers to convert family homes into medium-density housing, including 6-storey apartments, if they are within 800m of town centres or transport hubs.

But Northern Beaches Council says the reform, which could affect more than 11,000 properties, will change the “character of large parts of the northern beaches”.

Nine areas have been nominated — Balgowlah Village Shopping Centre, Warringah Mall, Forestway Shopping Centre and Frenchs Forest Precinct (Warringah Rd) as well as the Dee Why, Forestville, Manly, Manly Vale and Mona Vale town centres.

Blocks of flats up to 4-storeys would be allowed within 800m of the centres while 6-storey blocks and shop-top apartments up to 24m within 400m could be built.

An artist's impression, contained in Northern Beaches Council's draft Brookvale Structure Plan, looking across a new town square towards Dale St. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

Semi-attached houses, dual occupancies, townhouses and terraces, could be built within 800m from each town centre.

In a report to the council ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, staff officers stated that the government’s policy would allow housing types that “were either not allowed under council’s local planning controls, and/or are of a scale and density that were not permissible”.

An artist impression of part of the new Frenchs Forest town centre. Picture: NSW Government.

“There will be significant change to the built form and character of large parts of the northern beaches,” the report stated.

The council is proposing to amend its current the Manly, Warringah and Pittwater development control plans (DCP) so it can “guide the preparation and assessment of development applications for low and mid rise housing types” under the LMR reforms.

“(They) would strengthen supporting planning controls relating to site layout, building setbacks, building design, landscaping, vehicle access (and) amenity impacts on neighbouring properties,” according to the council report.

An artist impression of The Boulevard, proposed to be part of the new Frenchs Forest town centre that will feature shop-top apartment blocks. Picture: NSW Government.

The state government introduced the LMR policy in an effort to boost housing stock for the growing population.

The Northern Beaches Council area was predicted to have 288,000 people by 2036 and will need about 12,000 new dwellings over the next 11 years.

It has already drawn up a draft “Local Environment Plan” that would see a greater diversity of housing types, such as dual occupancies — two homes on one block — across all residential areas on the northern beaches.

An artist's impression of what Brookvale town centre would look like under Northern Beaches Council's proposed Brookvale Structure Plan. Picture: Northern Beaches Council

The council said this would help accommodate the growing population and provide more home options for young people and downsizers.

Mayor Sue Heins has raised concerns that the rezoning policy would add “many thousands more homes than have been envisaged” in the council’s own housing strategy.

“We understand the urgency to respond to the housing crisis, but councils need to be part of the process,” she said.

An artist's impression of apartment blocks, part of proposed $67 million redevelopment at Frenchs Forest, opposite Northern Beaches Hospital. Picture: Supplied

Independent councillor Vincent De Luca called on the government to abandon its development increases until more infrastructure was built.

“There is no current plan for additional infrastructure, transport, services or funding,” Cr De Luca said.

The council will vote on Tuesday on a motion to put is its draft amended DCPs out for public comment.

Originally published as Northern beaches’ town centres including Dee Why, Forestville, Mona Vale set for thousands more homes