21 Cook Street apartments approved with privacy and design changes Randwick’s planning panel approved the 31-apartment proposal unanimously, requiring upper-level side windows, the Level 5 setback, balcony planter boxes and room heights to meet amended conditions before a Construction Certificate is issued. Council: Randwick City Council Meeting: 9 Nov 2026 Recorded status: approved BRIEF The Randwick Local Planning Panel unanimously approved a 31-apartment building at 21 Cook Street, subject to privacy, setback, balcony and room-height conditions before the Construction Certificate. A landscape-maintenance plan must be submitted before the Occupation Certificate, with at least 12 months of maintenance required from that certificate’s date. KEY FACTS - The Randwick Local Planning Panel approved DA/1339/2025 unanimously on 9 November 2026. - The approved proposal is a six-storey residential flat building with 31 apartments, two basement levels and 30 car parking spaces at 21 Cook Street, Randwick. - The panel accepted a variation to the Clause 4.3 building-height standard in the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012. - Revised architectural plans must incorporate the required window, setback, balcony and room-height amendments, with approval of the amendments required before the Construction Certificate. - A landscape maintenance plan must be submitted to the Principal Certifier before the Occupation Certificate, and approved landscaping must be maintained for at least 12 months from the date of that certificate. ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD - The consent is conditional: the required amendments must be approved before the Construction Certificate, while the landscape-maintenance plan must be submitted before the Occupation Certificate. - The minutes record the approval and conditions but do not establish a construction start date or the issue of either certificate. - The apartment breakdown totals 31: 14 one-bedroom, six two-bedroom, nine three-bedroom and two four-bedroom apartments. The minutes record unanimity without a numerical vote tally. QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING - When will the applicant submit the amended plans, and will a Construction Certificate be issued? - Will the approved development proceed to construction, and is any construction timing recorded elsewhere? - When will the landscape-maintenance plan be submitted and the Occupation Certificate issued? RECORDED NEXT STEPS - If the development proceeds, revised architectural plans incorporating the required amendments must be submitted, and the amendments must be approved to the satisfaction of the Accredited Certifier before the Construction Certificate is issued. - A Landscape Maintenance Plan must be submitted to the Principal Certifier before the Occupation Certificate is issued, and approved landscaping must be maintained for at least 12 months from the date of that certificate. SOURCE PASSAGES The record identifies the meeting as an electronic meeting of the Randwick Local Planning Panel held on 9 November 2026. "This is page 1 of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Electronic) meeting held on 9 November 2026 MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL (ELECTRONIC) MEETING HELD ON MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER 2026 Present: Chairperson: Sue Francis Expert Members: Sue Weatherley, Kim Burrell Community Representatives: Michael Berg Council Officers present: Coordinator Major Assessments Mr F Macri Senior Environmental Planning Officer Mr L Coorey Declarations of Pecuniary and Non-Pecuniary Interests A) Nil." (Meeting title and attendance) DA/1339/2025 concerns demolition of the existing building and structures, tree removal and construction of a six-storey, 31-apartment residential flat building with two basement levels and 30 car parking spaces at 21 Cook Street, Randwick. "B. That the RLPP grant consent under Sections 4.16 and 4.17 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended, to Development Application No. DA/1339/2025 for demolition of existing building/structures, tree removal and construction of a 6-storey residential flat building comprising 31 x apartments (14 x 1-bedroom, 6 x 2-bedroom, 9 x 3-bedroom and 2 x 4-bedroom) and 2 x levels of basement for 30 car parking spaces, associated ancillary and landscaping works, at No. 21 Cook Street, Randwick subject to the development consent conditions attached to the supplementary assessment report, including the following MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL MEETING 9 NOVEMBER 2026 This is page 2 of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Electronic) meeting held on 9 November 2026 • Amend Condition 2 to read as follows: The approved plans and documents must be amended in accordance with the following requirements: a." (Resolution B) The applicant's written request concerns a variation of the Clause 4.3 height-of-buildings standard in the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012. "That the RLPP is satisfied that the Applicant's written request to vary the development standard relating to height of buildings in Clause 4.3 of Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012 has demonstrated that: i. Compliance with the relevant development standard is unreasonable and unnecessary in the circumstances of the case; and ii. There are sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the contravention of the relevant development standard." (Resolution A) All fixed panes in upper-level side-elevation windows must be deleted, and the remaining windows must be amended to highlight windows for privacy and amenity. "Upper-level side elevation windows All fixed panes to the upper-level side elevation windows must be deleted and the remaining windows amended to ensure they are highlight windows to ensure privacy and amenity requirements." (Amended Condition 2(a)) The Level 5 front building alignment must be increased to align with the front wall of the levels below. "b. Level 5 front setback The front building alignment of Level 5 must be increased so that it aligns with the front wall of the levels below, ensuring a consistent vertical alignment to the street frontage." (Amended Condition 2(b)) Planter boxes on Level 4 and Level 5 balconies must be removed, associated balconies extended to the amended building line, and updated balustrade details shown on the plans. "c. Level 4 and Level 5 planter boxes on balconies All planter boxes at Levels 4 and 5 balconies must be removed, and the associated balconies extended to the amended building line, with updated balustrade details shown on the plans." (Amended Condition 2(c)) Habitable rooms must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.7 metres. Revised architectural plans must incorporate all required amendments and consequential adjustments, with the amendments approved to the satisfaction of the Accredited Certifier before the Construction Certificate is issued. "d. Minimum floor-to-ceiling height All habitable rooms must provide a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.7 m, demonstrated on the amended architectural sections. e. Updated architectural plans Revised architectural plans must be submitted incorporating all required amendments, together with any consequential adjustments necessary to maintain compliance with the relevant design controls. The above amendments shall be included into and approved prior to the issues of the Construction Certificate to the satisfaction of the Accredited Certifier. Condition Reason: To require amendments to the plans endorsed by the consent authority following assessment of the development." (Amended Condition 2(d)–(e) and approval requirement) A landscape-maintenance plan prepared by a suitably qualified landscape professional must be submitted to the Principal Certifier before the Occupation Certificate, and approved landscaping must be maintained for at least 12 months from that certificate's date, including replacement of failed plantings. "• Delete Condition 4 External Colours, Materials & Finishes • Add Condition 99A: Landscape Maintenance (12-Month Establishment Period) A Landscape Maintenance Plan must be prepared by a suitably qualified landscape professional and submitted to the Principal Certifier prior to the issue of an Occupation Certificate. All approved landscaping must be maintained for a minimum period of 12 months from the date of Occupation Certificate, including watering, mulching, pruning, fertilising, pest and disease management, and replacement of any failed plantings to ensure full establishment." (Deletion of Condition 4 and addition of Condition 99A) SOURCES https://randwick.infocouncil.biz/RedirectToDoc.aspx?URL=Open/2026/11/PPE_09112026_MIN_4410_AT.PDF https://minutesradar.com/news/randwick-infocouncil-randwick-local-planning-panel-electronic-9-nov-2026-9-nov-2026-minutes-21-cook-street-apartments-approved-with-privacy-d19c2d6679/ Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.