Randwick panel refuses Church Street and Hannan Street developments

Randwick Local Planning Panel has refused two development applications, rejecting an eight-storey apartment proposal at 25-27 Church Street, Randwick, and a separate residential flat building at 57 Hannan Street, Maroubra. The panel made both decisions at its public meeting on 12 March 2026, after hearing deputations, visiting the sites and reviewing council officers’ assessments.

At 25-27 Church Street, Randwick, the panel refused DA/1205/2025 for demolition of existing buildings and structures, tree removal and construction of an eight-storey residential flat building with 27 apartments, including two two-bedroom units and 25 three-bedroom units, plus two basement levels with 35 car spaces.

The panel gave 14 reasons for refusing the application. They included a shortfall in off-street parking, an unsupported variation to the number of storeys, a failure to show the development fit the desired future character of the precinct, and a lack of support from the Randwick Design Excellence Advisory Panel.

It also found the proposal did not demonstrate consistency with a long list of design criteria, and said it was inconsistent with the aims of the plan and the objectives of the R3 zone in Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012. The panel also cited heritage, earthworks, essential services, design excellence and public-interest concerns.

The application was said to fail parts of the Randwick Comprehensive Development Control Plan 2013 covering heritage, landscaping and biodiversity, recycling and waste management, car and bicycle parking, landscaped open space, building depth, front setback, building façade, roof design, external wall height, earthworks, solar access and overshadowing, visual privacy and acoustic privacy.

For the Maroubra site, the panel refused DA/1302/2025 at 57 Hannan Street. The proposal sought demolition of existing building structures and construction of a part-eight, part-nine storey residential flat building with eight apartments, made up of two two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units, and basement parking for 10 cars.

The panel said the Maroubra proposal was inconsistent with the objectives of the R3 Medium Density Residential Zone, incompatible with the precinct’s desired future character and did not exhibit design excellence. It was not supported by the Randwick Design Advisory Panel in the form presented.

The refusal reasons also cited canopy tree coverage, contamination, earthworks, stormwater management and electricity supply. The panel said the proposal did not comply with parts of the Randwick Development Control Plan 2013 covering landscaping and biodiversity, transport, traffic, parking and access, and medium-density residential controls including communal open space, setbacks, building façade, roof design, wall height, pedestrian entry, apartment layout, colours, materials and finishes, earthworks, solar access, natural ventilation, visual privacy, view sharing, safety and security.

The panel also said it had not been given enough information to complete a full assessment. That included architectural plan information, photomontages, design analysis, modelling, an acoustic report, shadow diagrams, waste management, electricity supply, a performance solution report and contamination information. It also said a quantity surveyor’s report should be obtained because the reported development cost of $2,989,939.45 appeared to be an underestimate.

The minutes say the panel visited both sites, considered oral and written submissions and reviewed council’s assessment report before refusing each application unanimously. The meeting closed at 1:26pm.