Kingsford co-living plan fails to justify key planning variations

A proposed co-living development at 494-516 Anzac Parade, Kingsford, failed to win support for variations to floor space ratio and private co-living room size standards, with the applicant faulted for not providing written justification or sufficient environmental planning grounds.

The Randwick Local Planning Panel assessed the application under the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012 and Housing SEPP 2021. Its reasons did not support the floor space ratio variation because the applicant had not shown the non-compliance was unreasonable or unnecessary, or supplied sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify it.

The panel applied the same reasoning to the proposed variation to private co-living room sizes. It also identified inadequate motorcycle parking, insufficient building separation and a design that would be incompatible with the desired future character of a precinct undergoing transition.

Other concerns included the absence of adequate information to determine the affordable housing monetary contribution levy, as well as community infrastructure contributions and building identification signage. The panel also said the applicant had not sufficiently demonstrated whether the land was contaminated.

Traffic noise and vehicle emissions from the adjoining classified road were among the other issues raised. The concerns covered the building’s scale and design, the size and amenity of private rooms, parking, and the day-to-day operation of the site, including loading, waste collection and servicing.

The available material does not clearly record whether the Kingsford application was approved, refused or deferred. Its formal determination and any conditions require verification before the project’s status is reported as final.

The panel separately considered an application at 36 Cliffbrook Parade, Clovelly. WaterNSW stated that it intended to refuse an approval required under the Water Management Act 2000 for that proposal. That approval issue was separate from the Kingsford variations.