Cumberland panel approves Merrylands projects, refuses Westmead and Pendle Hill plans

Cumberland Local Planning Panel has approved two housing projects in Merrylands and Merrylands West and refused two other development applications at a meeting held on 13 May 2026.

At 70 Burnett Street, Merrylands, the panel approved Development Application 2025/0778 for the demolition of existing structures and construction of a three-storey boarding house with 20 boarding rooms, a communal area and at-grade parking. It supported Clause 4.6 variation requests for setbacks and building separation under State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and granted the proposal as a deferred commencement consent, subject to conditions in Council’s assessment report.

The panel said the applicant had shown compliance with the building separation and side setback standards was unreasonable and unnecessary in the circumstances. It also said there were sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the contraventions, and that the proposal would not have unreasonable impacts on neighbouring properties or the locality, subject to the recommended conditions.

At 9 Sherwood Road, Merrylands West, the panel approved an amending Development Application 2025/0688 to add one storey each to Buildings A and B and two storeys to Building C. The changes lift the total number of apartments from 90 to 117, including affordable housing apartments, and reconfigure the ground-floor retail tenancies, basement and at-grade parking, with a reduction of four car spaces.

The panel supported Clause 4.6 variation requests for building height, landscaping and floor-to-ceiling height at the Sherwood Road site. It said the applicant had demonstrated compliance with those standards was unreasonable and unnecessary, and that there were sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the variations.

The panel also said it had considered the written submission on the Sherwood Road application and found the matters raised had either been addressed in the design or were not of such weight as to warrant refusal. The proposal was also found not to create unreasonable impacts on neighbouring properties or the locality, subject to conditions.

The Westmead application at 62 Bridge Road was refused after the panel said it was not satisfied adequate arrangements had been made to satisfy Clause 6.4 of the Cumberland LEP 2021, particularly in relation to stormwater discharge. The minutes say the application failed to provide any evidence that the required easement could be obtained.

A separate application at 3-5 Gilba Road, Pendle Hill, for a five-storey mixed-use development with a commercial unit, childcare centre and 74 co-living units over basement car parking with 26 car spaces, was also refused. The panel said the refusal reasons were those listed in Council’s assessment report and the numerous non-compliances outlined there.

The panel also resolved that submitters on the approved and refused applications be notified of the determinations. The meeting ended at 1.30pm.