Housing & planning · Randwick City Council
31-apartment building approved for 21 Cook Street, Randwick
The unanimous consent covers six storeys, two basement levels and 30 parking spaces, with a height-standard variation and design changes required before construction certification.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A six-storey residential flat building with 31 apartments has been approved for 21 Cook Street, Randwick, after the Randwick Local Planning Panel unanimously granted consent for demolition, tree removal and construction of the project. The consent includes two basement levels with 30 car parking spaces.
The panel accepted the applicant’s request to vary the building-height standard in Clause 4.3 of the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012. Its resolution states that compliance would be unreasonable and unnecessary in the circumstances, and that sufficient environmental planning grounds supported the variation.
The apartments comprise 14 one-bedroom, six two-bedroom, nine three-bedroom and two four-bedroom homes. The panel said the amended and conditioned proposal was consistent with the objectives of the Housing SEPP 2021 and the R3 zone, including providing for housing needs while protecting residents’ amenity.
The consent requires several changes before a Construction Certificate can be issued. Fixed panes in upper-level side elevation windows must be deleted and the remaining windows amended to highlight windows, the Level 5 front building alignment must match the levels below, and planter boxes on Level 4 and Level 5 balconies must be removed. Habitable rooms must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.7 metres, with revised architectural plans incorporating the amendments approved to the satisfaction of the Accredited Certifier.
A landscape maintenance plan must be submitted to the Principal Certifier before an Occupation Certificate is issued. Landscaping must then be maintained for at least 12 months from the date of the Occupation Certificate, including replacing failed plantings.
The application was deferred at a 6 November panel meeting for additional information and amended plans. Minutes of the electronic meeting on 9 November record the determination as carried unanimously. They record consent, but do not provide a construction timetable or indicate that construction, certification or occupation has occurred.
What deserves a closer look
The minutes record consent and listed conditions, but do not establish that construction, certification or occupation has occurred.
The requirements include revised plans before the Construction Certificate, a Landscape Maintenance Plan before the Occupation Certificate and landscaping maintenance for at least 12 months from that certificate's date.
Questions for follow-up reporting
Has the applicant submitted the revised architectural plans required before the Construction Certificate?
What construction timetable, if any, has the applicant provided for 21 Cook Street?
What height was approved under the Clause 4.3 variation, and how does it compare with the applicable standard?
What happens next
Revised architectural plans must incorporate the panel's amendments, with approval to the Accredited Certifier's satisfaction before the Construction Certificate is issued.
A suitably qualified landscape professional must prepare a Landscape Maintenance Plan for submission to the Principal Certifier before the Occupation Certificate is issued.
Approved landscaping must be maintained for at least 12 months from the date of the Occupation Certificate, with failed plantings replaced.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The record identifies the meeting as the Randwick Local Planning Panel electronic meeting 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.
Minutes title
Open original minutes ↗DA/1339/2025 at 21 Cook Street, Randwick concerns demolition, tree removal and a six-storey building with 31 apartments, two basement levels and 30 parking spaces. The apartment mix is 14 one-bedroom, six two-bedroom, nine three-bedroom and two four-bedroom apartments.
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, Development Application DA/1339/2025
Open original minutes ↗Required design amendments include deleting fixed panes from upper-level side elevation windows and making the remaining windows highlight windows, aligning the Level 5 front building line with the levels below, and removing planter boxes on Level 4 and Level 5 balconies.
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. 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. 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(a)–(c)
Open original minutes ↗All habitable rooms must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.7 metres. Revised architectural plans must incorporate all required amendments, which must be approved to the Accredited Certifier's satisfaction 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 certification requirement
Open original minutes ↗A suitably qualified landscape professional must prepare a Landscape Maintenance Plan for submission to the Principal Certifier before an Occupation Certificate is issued. Approved landscaping must be maintained for at least 12 months from the 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.
Condition 99A, Landscape Maintenance
Open original minutes ↗The application was considered at the panel's electronic meeting on 6 November 2026 and deferred for additional information and amended plans.
Condition Reason: To ensure the landscaping is properly established and maintained during the initial 12-month establishment period. REASON: The Development Application (DA) was considered at the Randwick Local Planning Panel (RLPP) electronic meeting on 06 November 2026. At the meeting, the application was deferred for additional information and amended plans. The Panel has visited the site, considered the written submissions and reviewed the assessment report and supplementary report prepared by Council officers that addresses the relevant matters detailed in Section 4.15 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, as amended.
Reasons, earlier consideration and deferral
Open original minutes ↗The panel's approval reasons state that the proposal is consistent with the objectives of the Housing SEPP 2021 and the R3 zone, including providing for housing needs while protecting local residents' amenity.
The Panel approved the application for the following reasons: MINUTES OF RANDWICK LOCAL PLANNING PANEL MEETING 9 NOVEMBER 2026 This is page 3 of the Minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Electronic) meeting held on 9 November 2026 • The proposal is consistent with the objectives contained within the Housing SEPP 2021. • The proposal is consistent with the specific objectives of the R3 zone in that the proposed activity and built form will provide for the housing needs of the community whilst enhancing the aesthetic character and protecting the amenity of the local residents.
Reasons for approval
Open original minutes ↗The minutes record the determination as carried unanimously.
• The scale and design of the proposal as amended and conditioned is suitable for the location and is compatible with the desired future character of the locality. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY.
Recorded voting outcome
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the supplied minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel electronic meeting held on 9 November 2026. Confirmation status is not explicitly established by the supplied record.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Randwick Local Planning Panel approved DA/1339/2025 on 9 November 2026.
- The approved development comprises six storeys, 31 apartments, two basement levels and 30 car parking spaces.
- The panel accepted a variation to the Clause 4.3 building-height standard in the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012.
- Revised plans must address privacy, building alignment, balcony planter boxes and minimum 2.7-metre floor-to-ceiling heights before a Construction Certificate.
- Landscaping must be maintained for at least 12 months from the date of the Occupation Certificate.
Why it matters
- The consent permits a 31-home apartment project with basement parking, demolition and tree removal at 21 Cook Street, while requiring privacy, design and room-height changes before construction certification and landscaping obligations tied to the Occupation Certificate.