Randwick Local Planning Panel (Public) - 8 Oct 2026

Topics

• Panel rejects 13-apartment Coogee shop-top housing proposal
  Randwick’s planning panel has refused the proposed five- to six-storey redevelopment at 209-215 Coogee Bay Road.
  The decision blocks the submitted design and sets out concerns about height, local character, residential amenity, flooding, parking, landscaping and building design.
• Coogee development refusal leaves court and redesign questions open
  The refused application is already subject to a deemed refusal in the Land and Environment Court, while the Panel has encouraged further discussions before any Section 34 Conference.
  Residents and development watchers may face further legal or redesign activity despite the Panel’s refusal of the current application.
• Refusal of DA/643/2026 at 209-215 Coogee Bay Road
  The Panel refused consent under section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for an integrated development involving demolition of the existing buildings and construction of a part five- to six-storey shop-top housing development with 13 apartments, roof terraces, four retail tenancies and basement parking.
  The proposal will not proceed in its current form. The Panel found unacceptable impacts on surrounding residential amenity, internal building amenity, flooding risk, traffic and parking, landscaping, waste management, setbacks and the desired future character of Coogee.

Decisions

• Refusal of DA/643/2026 at 209-215 Coogee Bay Road
  The Panel refused consent under section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for an integrated development involving demolition of the existing buildings and construction of a part five- to six-storey shop-top housing development with 13 apartments, roof terraces, four retail tenancies and basement parking.
  The proposal will not proceed in its current form. The Panel found unacceptable impacts on surrounding residential amenity, internal building amenity, flooding risk, traffic and parking, landscaping, waste management, setbacks and the desired future character of Coogee.
• Applicant encouraged to address outstanding issues
  The Panel encouraged the applicant to enter into without-prejudice discussions with Council before any Section 34 Conference, particularly regarding planting on the front façade, structural loading, maintenance and matters raised in Council’s statements of facts and contentions.
  Further discussions may influence any future proposal or court process, but no approval was granted at this meeting.

Discussion

• Planning and design compliance
  The Panel found the proposal did not satisfy several SEPP (Housing) 2021 and Apartment Design Guide requirements, including desired future character, deep soil, visual privacy, natural ventilation, and apartment size and layout.
  These findings relate to the scale, liveability and appearance of any future redevelopment on the site.
• Flooding, earthworks and infrastructure concerns
  The Panel found that the application did not adequately demonstrate that proposed earthworks were acceptable, noting flooding impacts to the basement and car lift, and raised insufficient consideration of infrastructure beneath the site.
  These issues concern potential impacts on site safety, drainage and surrounding properties.
• Traffic, parking and local amenity
  The refusal cited non-compliance with Randwick Development Control Plan provisions covering transport, traffic and parking, mechanical parking devices, landscaping, waste management, water management, setbacks and local-centre development.
  Residents could have been affected by vehicle movements, parking demand, construction impacts, waste arrangements and the development’s relationship with nearby homes and businesses.
• Conflict of interest
  Panel member Stephen Davies declared an actual conflict because his firm prepared the site’s Heritage Assessment. He left the meeting and did not participate in the review, discussion or determination.
  The matter was determined without the conflicted member taking part.

Impacts

• The proposed 13-apartment, four-retail-tenancy development at 209-215 Coogee Bay Road was refused.
• The refusal means the submitted design cannot proceed as approved.
• The applicant may continue discussions with Council and may pursue further steps associated with the existing Land and Environment Court matter.
• Residents may see a revised proposal or further court-related activity if the applicant continues pursuing development of the site.

Places

• 209-215 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee (development site)
  Site of the refused integrated shop-top housing application DA/643/2026.
• Coogee Bay Road (road and local centre)
  Frontage of the proposed retail and residential development.
• Coogee (suburb)
  Locality affected by the proposed development and its potential traffic, amenity and character impacts.

Next

• Applicant and Council may enter into without-prejudice discussions about the identified design, structural loading, maintenance and other issues.
  Before any Section 34 Conference
• Any future proposal or court process may need to address the Panel’s refusal reasons and Council’s statements of facts and contentions.
  Future process; no specific date stated

Extract

This is of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Public) meeting held on 8 October 2026 MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL (PUBLIC) MEETING HELD ON THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2026 AT 1:00 PM Present: Chairperson: Sue Francis Expert Members: Stephen Alchin & Stephen Davies Community Representatives: Heather Cappie-Wood Council Officers present: Manager Development Assessment Mr F Ko Coordinator Fast Track Mr M Rivera Coordinator Major Assessments Mr F Macri Acknowledgement of Country The Acknowledgement of Country was read by Declarations of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests A) Stephen Davies declared an actual conflict of interest in Item D67/26 as his firm had prepared the H...