Conflict forces panel member out as Coogee’s 13-apartment proposal is refused

A 13-apartment shop-top housing proposal at 209-215 Coogee Bay Road, Coogee, has been refused after panel member Stephen Davies declared an actual conflict and left before the application was reviewed and determined.

Davies said his firm had prepared the site’s Heritage Assessment. He did not participate in the review, discussion or determination of Development Application DA/643/2026.

The Randwick Local Planning Panel unanimously refused consent for the demolition of the existing buildings and construction of a part five- to six-storey development with 13 apartments, roof terraces, four retail tenancies fronting Coogee Bay Road and basement parking.

The panel found the application failed to satisfy requirements under SEPP (Housing) 2021, including controls for deep soil zones, visual privacy, natural ventilation, and apartment size and layout. It also found inconsistencies with the Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012, including provisions covering building height, earthworks, design excellence and the desired future character of the locality.

Flooding impacts in the proposed basement and car lift were among the issues cited. The panel also identified non-compliance with Randwick Development Control Plan 2025 provisions covering traffic, parking, mechanical parking devices, landscaping, waste management, water management, setbacks and local-centre development.

It said the proposal would have unacceptable internal amenity and external impacts, had not sufficiently considered infrastructure beneath the site and had not demonstrated that the property was suitable for the extent of development proposed. The panel also found the development was not in the public interest.

The application is already subject to a deemed refusal in the Land and Environment Court. The panel encouraged the applicant to enter into without-prejudice discussions with Randwick Council before any Section 34 Conference.

Those discussions would address issues including the size of lightwells, waste arrangements, planting on the front façade, structural loading and maintenance. No approval was granted, and the submitted design cannot proceed as approved.