Housing & planning · Randwick City Council
31-apartment Randwick project gets height-standard variation at 21 Cook Street
The Local Planning Panel approved the six-storey development unanimously, allowing a departure from the Clause 4.3 height control subject to design and certification requirements.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
A six-storey, 31-apartment building at 21 Cook Street, Randwick, has been approved with a variation to the building-height standard in Clause 4.3 of the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012.
The Randwick Local Planning Panel recorded that compliance with the height standard was unreasonable and unnecessary in the circumstances, and that sufficient environmental planning grounds justified the variation. The minutes do not state the numerical height limit or how far the proposal departs from it.
The consent for DA/1339/2025 covers demolition of existing buildings and structures, tree removal, two basement levels and 30 car parking spaces. The apartments comprise 14 one-bedroom, six two-bedroom, nine three-bedroom and two four-bedroom dwellings.
The approval is subject to amended plans. Fixed panes in upper-level side windows must be deleted and the remaining windows changed to highlight windows, the Level 5 front alignment must match the front wall of the levels below, and planter boxes on Level 4 and Level 5 balconies must be removed. Habitable rooms must provide at least 2.7 metres of floor-to-ceiling height.
The revised architectural plans must incorporate the required amendments, which must be approved to the satisfaction of the Accredited Certifier before a Construction Certificate is issued. A landscape maintenance plan is required before an Occupation Certificate, with approved landscaping maintained for at least 12 months from the date of that certificate, including replacement of failed plantings.
The application had been deferred at the Panel's 6 November 2026 meeting for additional information and amended plans. The 9 November minutes record the final resolution as carried unanimously. They do not give dates for construction or occupation.
What deserves a closer look
The minutes support approval of a height-standard variation but do not state the numerical height control or the extent of the departure.
The apartment mix totals 31 dwellings: 14 plus six plus nine plus two.
The consent remains subject to later certification steps, including approval of amended plans before the Construction Certificate and submission of a landscape maintenance plan before the Occupation Certificate. The 12-month landscape maintenance period runs from the date of the Occupation Certificate.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What is the numerical Clause 4.3 height control, and how far does the approved design exceed it?
When will the amended architectural plans be submitted and approved?
When is construction expected to begin?
What additional consent conditions apply to construction and tree removal under the full development consent?
What happens next
Revised architectural plans incorporating the required amendments must be submitted, with the amendments 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, with approved landscaping maintained for at least 12 months from the date of that certificate.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The applicant's written request sought to vary the building-height standard in Clause 4.3 of 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.
D75/26 resolution A
Open original minutes ↗DA/1339/2025 at 21 Cook Street, Randwick, concerns demolition, tree removal and construction of a six-storey building with 31 apartments, two basement levels and 30 car 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.
D75/26 resolution B
Open original minutes ↗Required amendments include deleting fixed panes from upper-level side windows and making the remaining windows highlight windows, aligning the Level 5 front wall with the levels below, and removing planter boxes from 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.
Condition 2 amendments, parts a–c
Open original minutes ↗All habitable rooms must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.7 metres, demonstrated on amended architectural sections.
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.
Condition 2 amendment, part d
Open original minutes ↗Revised architectural plans must incorporate all required amendments, 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.
Condition 2 amendment, part e and certification requirement
Open original minutes ↗A Landscape Maintenance Plan must be submitted to the Principal Certifier before an Occupation Certificate is issued. Approved landscaping must be maintained for at least 12 months from the date of that certificate, 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.
Added Condition 99A
Open original minutes ↗The application was considered at the Panel's 6 November 2026 electronic meeting 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.
D75/26 reasons, prior consideration and deferral
Open original minutes ↗The resolution is recorded 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.
D75/26 voting outcome
Open original minutes ↗Source record
This report is based on Randwick City Council's minutes for the Randwick Local Planning Panel electronic meeting held on 9 November 2026.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Randwick Local Planning Panel approved DA/1339/2025 for 21 Cook Street, Randwick.
- The proposal 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 development standard.
- The approval requires privacy, setback, planter-box and floor-to-ceiling-height amendments before the Construction Certificate.
- A landscape maintenance plan is required before the Occupation Certificate, with approved landscaping maintained for at least 12 months from the date of that certificate.
Why it matters
- The approval allows a 31-dwelling, six-storey development at 21 Cook Street to proceed through later certification stages with a variation to the applicable height control. The minutes do not state the height limit, the size of the variation or when construction will begin.