Three-to-one vote blocks 241 Darley Road garage over sandstone-wall damage

A three-to-one vote has stopped a proposed double garage and access upgrade at 241 Darley Road, Randwick, after the Randwick Local Planning Panel rejected plans to remove part of a Council sandstone retaining wall.

The panel refused DA/79/2026 for alterations and additions to the existing house. The proposal included partial demolition of the sandstone wall, relocation of public pedestrian stairs, a new driveway crossing, a double garage with internal lift access, terrace works and landscaping.

The refusal was made under section 4.16 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The panel found the proposal was inconsistent with the R3 Medium Density residential zone objectives in the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012 because removing the wall would harm the streetscape and the area’s desired future character.

It also cited non-compliance with heritage provisions in the local environmental plan and with heritage, landscaping, tree-canopy, earthworks, parking and garage controls in the Randwick Development Control Plan. The panel found the proposal would have an unacceptable visual and physical impact on the North Randwick Heritage Conservation Area.

The panel said the work would establish an undesirable precedent for other properties, potentially leading to ad hoc modifications and the continuing loss of the wall’s original extent and character. It also found that removing the wall for the proposed garage would harm streetscape character and public-domain integrity and was not in the public interest.

Community representative Laurie O’Connor voted for approval, saying the proposal would improve safety and access for the owners, occupiers and visitors. Chairperson Julie Walsh and expert members David Epstein and Awais Piracha voted against it.

All panel members noted that parts of the existing sandstone wall needed restoration.

The decision followed deputations from Katie Ryder, Mick Boman, Phillip North and Hugh Hyde Page. A similar proposal at 239 Darley Road, involving access, garage, stair and sandstone-wall works, was also refused that day. Neither application can proceed in its submitted form.