Urban Digest

Landmark Group Australia Pty Ltd’s proposed mixed-use development for 4 Delmar Parade and 812 Pittwater Road, Dee Why, has been approved. The project, submitted in March 2024 and determined by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) on 20 December 2024, will bring 280 apartments, including 43 affordable housing units, as well as commercial spaces, to this rapidly growing precinct.

Details of the Approved Development

The approved project consists of two buildings:

• Building A: A 6/7-storey structure with 156 apartments and one ground-floor commercial tenancy facing Delmar Parade.
• Building B: A 9/10-storey structure containing 124 apartments and two commercial spaces along Pittwater Road.

Key features include:

• Three basement levels with parking for 425 vehicles, storage, waste management, and bicycle facilities.
• Communal open spaces located on the rooftops and between the buildings, providing a mix of outdoor and indoor amenities.
• A focus on sustainability, with designs optimised for natural light, ventilation, and reduced environmental impact.
• Affordable housing allocation in line with the Housing SEPP (2021), with 15% of the floor space dedicated to affordable housing (43 units).

Independent Planning Commission’s Approval

The IPC granted approval for the project after a thorough assessment of its compliance with state and local planning policies.

Key reasons for approval include:

1. Alignment with Strategic Goals:
   • The project supports NSW Government targets for increasing housing supply, especially affordable housing.
   • It meets the objectives of regional and local strategies, including the Greater Sydney Region Plan, Eastern City District Plan, and the Dee Why Town Centre Master Plan.
   • The location within Dee Why Town Centre offers excellent connectivity to public transport, employment hubs, and local amenities.
2. Benefits to the Community:
   • Provides much-needed housing diversity, with one, two, three, and four-bedroom apartments to cater to varied demographics.
   • Enhances local employment with 200 construction jobs and 10 operational roles.
3. Sustainability and Mitigated Impacts:
   • Incorporates ecologically sustainable design (ESD) principles, reducing its environmental footprint.
   • Shadowing, wind, and noise impacts were assessed and deemed acceptable.
   • Visual impacts on the adjacent Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden (SRRBG) were within compliant limits.
4. Public Interest and Local Impact:
   • The project balances economic, social, and environmental considerations while addressing the critical need for housing.
   • The inclusion of affordable housing meets key objectives under the Housing SEPP and NSW housing policy.

Community and Council Engagement

While the Northern Beaches Council objected to the proposal, citing concerns about traffic, parking, and impacts on the SRRBG, the IPC found these issues were adequately addressed and outweighed by the project’s benefits. Public consultation revealed 26 submissions, with mixed views, including concerns about amenity and support for additional housing.

Key Features

• Affordable housing: 43 units allocated as in-fill affordable housing.
• Three-level basement parking with spaces for 425 vehicles and bicycle facilities.
• Rooftop and landscaped communal spaces for residents.
• High-quality urban design in line with sustainability and community integration goals.
• A seamless extension of the Dee Why Town Centre’s growing mixed-use precinct.

Project Team

1. Developer: Landmark Group Australia Pty Ltd
2. Urban Planner: Sutherland & Associates Planning
3. Architect: Rothelowman
4. Landscape Designer: Ground Ink
5. Traffic and Parking Consultant: TTPP
6. Acoustic Consultant: Acoustic Dynamics
7. Environmental Consultant: Aquila Ecological Surveys
8. Social Impact Consultant: Sarah George Consulting

For more information, search for application SSD-68230714 on the Northern Beaches Council’s website.