Housing & planning · Cumberland Council
Lidcombe submitters’ concerns considered as 53-room co-living project approved
The Cumberland Local Planning Panel approved the six-storey development at 14 Kerrs Road, subject to conditions, after finding written-submission issues did not warrant refusal.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
People who lodged submissions about a proposed six-storey co-living development at 14 Kerrs Road, Lidcombe, are to be notified after the Cumberland Local Planning Panel approved the 53-room project, subject to consent conditions.
The panel’s resolution approves DA2026/0221 for demolition of the existing structures and construction of the development, including basement car parking. It also supports variations to the minimum lot-size standard under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and the building-height standard under the Cumberland Local Environmental Plan 2021.
In its recorded reasons, the panel said matters raised in written submissions had either been adequately addressed in the design or, where not specifically addressed, were not significant enough to warrant refusing the application. It also found that, subject to recommended conditions, the proposal would not have unreasonable impacts on the amenity of neighbouring properties or the locality.
Those are findings recorded by the panel, rather than an independent assessment for this report. The minutes provided for the decision do not include the detailed conditions or approved documentation, so the record does not show how individual issues such as construction or ongoing operation will be managed.
The Lidcombe decision was unanimous. Chairperson Michael File and members Kerry Kyriacou, Kevin Hoffman and Firas Shawash were recorded as voting for it, with no votes against.
The same 9 September meeting also dealt with an amendment to consent 2020/0080 at 234 - 236 Cumberland Road, Auburn. That separate decision supported variations to building-height and landscaping standards and allowed a 30 per cent increase in floor space ratio and building height, with at least 15 per cent of gross floor area dedicated to affordable housing.
What deserves a closer look
The approval, variations and direction to notify submitters are recorded as panel decisions, not recommendations awaiting adoption.
The panel's findings about submissions and impacts are attributed to the recorded reasons in the minutes.
The four votes for the Lidcombe decision are counted from the names in P17; P18 records no votes against. The vote fragment at the start of P10 belongs to the preceding Auburn item.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What conditions govern construction hours, traffic, parking, waste and ongoing operation at 14 Kerrs Road?
What were the applicable minimum lot-size and height standards, and how far does the approved development depart from them?
When will submitters be notified of the determination?
What happens next
Notify people who lodged submissions of the determination, as directed by the panel.
Any development under the approval must comply with the conditions listed in the attached schedule.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
DA2026/0221 concerns demolition of existing structures and construction of a six-storey, 53-room co-living development over basement car parking at 14 Kerrs Road, Lidcombe.
3. Development Application DA2026/0221 for Demolition of the existing structures and construction of a 6 storey co-living housing development comprising 53 rooms over basement car parking pursuant to State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 on land at 14 Kerrs Road, Lidcombe be approved subject to conditions listed in the attached schedule.
Item ELPP030/26, panel decision 3
Open original minutes ↗The panel supported variations to the minimum lot-size standard under the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 and the building-height standard under the Cumberland Local Environmental Plan 2021.
Against: Nil. Cumberland Local Planning Panel Meeting 9 September 2026 Page 3 ITEM ELPP030/26 - DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION - 14 KERRS ROAD, LIDCOMBE PANEL DECISION: 1. The Clause 4.6 variation request to contravene the minimum lot size development standard, pursuant to section 69(1)(b)(ii) of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021, be supported. 2. The Clause 4.6 variation request to contravene the height of building development standard, pursuant to clause 4.3 of the Cumberland Local Environmental Plan 2021, be supported.
Item ELPP030/26, panel decisions 1 and 2
Open original minutes ↗The panel said written-submission matters had been adequately addressed through the design or, where not specifically addressed, were not significant enough to warrant refusal.
Cumberland Local Planning Panel Meeting 9 September 2026 Page 4 4. The Panel has considered the matters raised in written submissions and has determined that these matters have either been adequately addressed in the design of the development or where not specifically addressed are not of such weight as to warrant refusal of the application.
Item ELPP030/26, reason 4
Open original minutes ↗Subject to the recommended conditions of consent, the proposal would not have unreasonable impacts on neighbouring-property amenity or the locality.
5. Subject to the recommended conditions of consent, the proposal will not have any unreasonable impacts on the amenity of neighbouring properties or the locality. For: Michael File (Chairperson), Kerry Kyriacou, Kevin Hoffman and Firas Shawash.
Item ELPP030/26, reason 5
Open original minutes ↗Michael File, Kerry Kyriacou, Kevin Hoffman and Firas Shawash were recorded as voting for, with none against: four votes for and zero against.
5. Subject to the recommended conditions of consent, the proposal will not have any unreasonable impacts on the amenity of neighbouring properties or the locality. For: Michael File (Chairperson), Kerry Kyriacou, Kevin Hoffman and Firas Shawash. Against: Nil. The meeting terminated at 12.07pm. Signed: Chairperson
Item ELPP030/26, vote record
Open original minutes ↗At the 9 September 2026 meeting, the panel supported building-height and landscaping-standard variations for 234–236 Cumberland Road, Auburn.
The meeting opened at 11.30am. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST: There were no declarations of interest. ITEM ELPP029/26 - DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION - 234 - 236 CUMBERLAND ROAD, AUBURN PANEL DECISION: 1. That the Clause 4.6 variation request to contravene the Building Height development standard pursuant to Section 16(3) of State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 be supported. 2. Clause 4.6 variation request to contravene the landscape provision development standard pursuant to Section 19(2)(b) of State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 be supported. 3. Amendment of the development application to revise the approved development consent 2020/0080 pursuant to Chapter 2, Part 2, Division 1 of the Housing SEPP Cumberland Local Planning Panel Meeting 9 September 2026 Page 2 2021 to allow a 30% increase in floor space ratio and building height with minimum 15% of gross floor area dedicated to affordable housing.
Item ELPP029/26, panel decisions 1–3
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This report is based on the minutes of the Cumberland Local Planning Panel meeting held on 9 September 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- DA2026/0221 was approved, subject to conditions, for demolition of existing structures and construction of a six-storey co-living development with 53 rooms and basement car parking at 14 Kerrs Road, Lidcombe.
- The panel supported variations to minimum lot-size and building-height development standards.
- The panel said written-submission issues were addressed through the design or did not warrant refusal.
- The decision was recorded as four votes for and none against.
- Submitters are to be notified of the determination.
Why it matters
- The approval affects the site at 14 Kerrs Road and the people who made submissions about it. It is subject to consent conditions, but those details are not reproduced in the minutes used for this report.