Housing & planning · Randwick City Council
31 apartments approved at 21 Cook Street as Randwick panel accepts height variation
The six-storey residential proposal will include 30 basement parking spaces, with privacy, setback, room-height and landscaping conditions attached to the consent.
Reporting from public council minutes. How this article was prepared
The Randwick Local Planning Panel has approved a six-storey, 31-apartment building at 21 Cook Street, Randwick, after accepting a variation to the local building-height standard. The consent covers demolition of existing buildings and structures, tree removal, two basement levels and 30 car parking spaces.
The panel recorded that compliance with Clause 4.3 of the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012 was unreasonable and unnecessary in the circumstances, and that sufficient environmental planning grounds supported the variation. The minutes do not state the building’s height in metres.
The consent requires changes to the approved design. All fixed panes in upper-level side windows must be deleted and the remaining windows made 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 provide at least 2.7 metres of floor-to-ceiling height.
Revised architectural plans incorporating those changes must be submitted, with the amendments approved to the satisfaction of the Accredited Certifier before a Construction Certificate is issued. The panel also deleted a condition concerning external colours, materials and finishes.
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 after the certificate, including replacing failed plantings.
The application had been deferred at the panel’s 6 November meeting for further information and amended plans. On 9 November, the panel carried the approval unanimously, saying the amended and conditioned proposal was consistent with the objectives of the Housing SEPP 2021 and the R3 zone. The minutes do not provide a construction timetable.
What deserves a closer look
The consent permits the development but does not establish a construction start or completion date.
The minutes identify later certification and occupation requirements but do not state the approved building height in metres or the extent of the variation.
The apartment mix totals 31 dwellings: 14 one-bedroom, six two-bedroom, nine three-bedroom and two four-bedroom apartments.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What is the approved building height in metres, and what height control applies under Clause 4.3?
When will the amended architectural plans be submitted and the required amendments approved before the Construction Certificate?
What additional tree-removal, replacement or landscaping requirements appear in the full development consent conditions?
What happens next
Revised architectural plans incorporating the panel's 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 afterwards.
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
Clause B calls for the RLPP to grant consent for DA/1339/2025 for a six-storey, 31-apartment building with two basement levels and 30 car parking spaces at 21 Cook Street, Randwick, subject to development consent conditions.
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
Open original minutes ↗The applicant's written request concerns a variation of 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.
Resolution A
Open original minutes ↗The window amendments require deletion of fixed panes and highlight windows for the remaining upper-level side windows. The Level 5 front alignment must match the levels below, and Level 4 and Level 5 balcony planter boxes must be removed.
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 ↗Habitable rooms must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.7 metres. Revised architectural plans must incorporate the required amendments, which must be approved before the Construction Certificate is issued to the satisfaction of the Accredited Certifier.
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 ↗The listed changes call for deletion of Condition 4 concerning external colours, materials and finishes and addition of Condition 99A requiring a Landscape Maintenance Plan before the Occupation Certificate and maintenance of approved landscaping for at least 12 months from the certificate 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
Open original minutes ↗The application was considered at the panel's electronic meeting on 6 November 2026 and deferred at that meeting 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 minutes say the panel approved the application for reasons including consistency with the objectives of the Housing SEPP 2021 and the R3 zone, and record the outcome as carried unanimously.
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. • 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.
Approval reasons and voting outcome
Open original minutes ↗The minutes identify 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.
Document title
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from the minutes of the Randwick Local Planning Panel (Electronic) meeting held on 9 November 2026, Randwick City Council.
Key facts from the minutes
- The Randwick Local Planning Panel approved DA/1339/2025 on 9 November 2026.
- The approved development comprises 31 apartments in a six-storey building, with two basement levels and 30 car parking spaces at 21 Cook Street, Randwick.
- The panel accepted a variation to the building-height standard in clause 4.3 of the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012.
- Privacy, setbacks, balcony planter boxes, room heights and revised plans are subject to conditions before the Construction Certificate.
- A Landscape Maintenance Plan is required before the Occupation Certificate, with landscaping maintenance for at least 12 months afterwards.
Why it matters
- The approval permits a six-storey apartment development with 31 dwellings, basement parking, demolition and tree removal at 21 Cook Street. Privacy, streetscape, internal room height and landscaping requirements must be addressed at later certification and occupation stages, but the minutes do not say when construction will start.