Darley Road garage plans refused over sandstone-wall and heritage damage

Three Darley Road development applications involving double garages and sandstone-wall removal have been refused, with the Randwick Local Planning Panel citing damage to streetscape character, heritage protections and public-domain access.

The strongest objections applied to DA/77/2026 at 239 Darley Road, where the proposal included partial demolition of a Council sandstone retaining wall, relocation of public pedestrian stairs, a new driveway crossing, a double garage, internal lift access and terrace works.

The panel found the 239 proposal was inconsistent with the R3 Medium Density residential zone objectives under the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012. It also found non-compliance with heritage-conservation provisions and controls covering landscaping, tree-canopy cover, earthworks, parking, garage configuration and access to homes elevated above retaining walls in the public domain.

The panel said removing the wall to make way for the garage would have an unacceptable and detrimental visual and physical impact on the North Randwick Heritage Conservation Area. It also said the work could establish an undesirable precedent, contributing to further ad hoc alterations and the continuing loss of the wall’s original extent and character.

The 239 application was refused by three votes to one. Community representative Laurie O’Connor voted for approval, saying the proposal would improve safety and access for owners, occupiers and visitors. Chair Julie Walsh and expert members David Epstein and Awais Piracha voted against it.

The panel noted that parts of the existing sandstone wall needed restoration. It refused DA/79/2026 for 241 Darley Road, which proposed similar alterations and additions, including partial wall demolition, access works, a double garage, internal lift access, terrace works and landscaping. The supplied decision details do not include the complete reasons or voting outcome for that application.

DA/1439/2025 for 263 and 265 Darley Road was also refused. Those plans included tree removal, sandstone-wall demolition, relocated pedestrian stairs, new driveway crossings, internal driveways and double garages. The stated grounds included heritage, tree and vegetation, public-domain access and flood-control concerns.

All three refusals were made under section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Applicants may revise the proposals or consider any available review or appeal pathway under planning legislation, with no timetable stated.