Plans Tipped to Spark Frenchs Forest Resurgence

Plans to build three apartment complexes in Sydney’s northern beaches could spark the start of a new era of development in Frenchs Forest. 

The 5740sq m amalgamated site opposite the Northern Beaches Hospital and town centre is part of an emerging precinct and has been tipped to be the first of many. 

The plans for 127 apartment were filed by Young Assets Holding Pty Limited, led by Daoming Huang, Liqing Xue and Quanhua Zheng, with the Northern Beaches Council.

The development would replace four large houses across the slightly sloping site at 116-120 Frenchs Forest West and 11 Gladys Avenue.

The properties last sold in 2017 and 2018 for more than $12 million to Robert and Jane Woods, who were directing Northern Beaches Apartments Pty Ltd.

This was around the time the Northern Beaches Hospital Precinct Structure Plan was drafted and the 20-year growth plans for Frenchs Forest were unveiled. 

▲ The four houses on the site would go under the proposed plans for the site at Frenchs Forest. Source: Nearmap

This showed that the project site would become zoned medium-density, and that the suburb would provide space for 5360 new homes and 2300 jobs.

These latest plans, designed by Brewster Murray, show three complexes across the site with nine apartments dedicated to council housing and a further 21 for affordable housing.

There is also basement and mezzanine parking for 139 cars, 17 car share spaces, a three-car wash bay and three charging spaces.

The application, with a $670million capital investment value, was expected to go on exhibition next week. 

▲ Brewster Murray architects said the design aspires to be in keeping with its future context as well as being sympathetic to its immediate and current context.

Planners from Boston Blyth Fleming held talks with the council and the Sustainability Advisory Panel last year to work up acceptable plans.

“The proposal requires the consent authority to give favourable consideration to a variation to the building height development standard,” the planning report by Boston Blyth Fleming said.

“Strict compliance has been found to be unreasonable and unnecessary having regard to the particular circumstances of the case including the topography of the land.”