Randwick panel defers three Darley Road applications and refuses Maroubra plan

Randwick Local Planning Panel has refused a mixed-use development at 960 Anzac Parade, Maroubra, and deferred three Darley Road applications in Randwick after its public meeting on 21 May 2026. The Maroubra proposal was refused unanimously. The Darley Road matters were all deferred.

DA/176/2026 for 960 Anzac Parade sought demolition and construction of a part-7 and part-8 storey mixed-use development comprising 42 private room co-living housing rooms, two two-bedroom affordable housing apartments, four at-grade parking spaces and associated works.

The panel said the proposal was prohibited development under clause 2.3 of RLEP 2012. It also found the project did not meet the objectives of the R3 Medium Density Residential Zone.

The refusal reasons also cited non-compliance with building height and floor space ratio standards, lack of design excellence, uncertainty over contamination, and incompatibility with parts of the Randwick Development Control Plan 2013 covering recycling and waste management, transport, traffic, parking and access.

The panel said it had visited the site, considered submissions and reviewed the council officers' assessment report. It also found there was insufficient information on design analysis and modelling, indicative building layout plans, architectural plans, shadow diagrams, infrastructure assessment, a Preliminary Site Contamination Investigation Report and a current Geotechnical Investigation Report.

The resolution said the proposed development was not in the public interest. It also said approval would result in the isolation of 2 Byng Street, Randwick, and that the applicant had not satisfactorily demonstrated genuine attempts to acquire that property.

Three Darley Road applications were then deferred at the request of the applicants.

DA/1439/2025 at 263 and 265 Darley Road sought alterations and additions to existing dwelling houses, including tree removal, demolition of a sandstone wall, relocation of pedestrian stairs, construction of new driveway crossings, internal driveways and double garages with waste storage, plus associated ancillary and landscaping works.

DA/77/2026 at 239 Darley Road and DA/79/2026 at 241 Darley Road were both for alterations and additions to existing dwelling houses. The 239 Darley Road proposal included partial demolition of a Council sandstone wall, relocation of public pedestrian stairs, construction of a new driveway crossing, a double garage with internal lift access to the dwelling and a terrace above. The 241 Darley Road proposal was the same, apart from being at No. 241 Darley Road.

For each Darley Road matter, the panel said the applicants needed to respond to issues raised in the report, including design revisions. It also noted that the publicly exhibited Draft Randwick Development Control Plan 2025 would be considered by Council in the near future and could affect the matter.