Randwick panel approves six-storey, 82-room co-living project on Magill Street

A six-storey co-living development with 82 private rooms has been approved for 1-3 Magill Street, Randwick, after the Randwick Local Planning Panel accepted a height variation request for the site and granted consent.

The panel said the applicant had shown compliance with the building height standard was unreasonable and unnecessary in the circumstances, and that there were sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the variation under Randwick Local Environmental Plan 2012.

The approved project includes basement parking for nine vehicles, including one accessible space and two car-share spaces, 41 bicycle spaces, 17 motorcycle spaces, landscaping and site works.

The panel attached a series of design changes to the consent. They include a waste chute system, or an approved alternative waste method, a dormer increase at level 5, changes to level 5 communal space, skylights for all level 5 private rooms, privacy treatments for terraces and balconies, lower side and rear fencing, centralised air-conditioning and the relocation of a vent in the back yard of Unit UD01.

It also required the approved plans to be amended before a construction certificate is issued, with the amended plans to be submitted to and approved by Council’s Manager Development Assessment.

A landscape management plan must also be submitted to and approved by Council’s Manager Development Assessment before a construction certificate is issued, and it must then be implemented for the life of the development.

In its reasons, the panel said the site, which amalgamates two lots, is suitable for a six-storey scale of development. It said the proposal is consistent with the objectives of the RLEP 2012 and the relevant requirements of the RDCP 2013, including Part E7 relating to the Magill Street HIA.

The panel also said the proposal is consistent with the specific objectives of Zone R3, including that development should reflect the desired future character of the locality, adequately protect resident amenity in an area undergoing transition and provide adequate housing.

The decision followed a deputation from Joseph Sassine.

The panel heard the Magill Street proposal alongside matters at 30-32 Moore Street, Coogee, and 21 Cook Street, Randwick. The Moore Street matter was approved and the Cook Street application was deferred.