Mixed-Use Crows Nest Tower Cropped After Rejection

After a rejection from council for a tricky mixed-use development in the northern Sydney suburb of Crows Nest, the developers went back to the drawing board and resubmitted plans. 

If approved this time, the $55-million adaptive reuse project will deliver a 13-storey mixed-use building, knocking a whole floor off earlier plans.

With two ground-floor commercial tenancies and commercial lobby space, it will also consist of a residential component of 61 apartments, of which 58 will be three-bedroom units and the remaining three will have four-bedrooms.

The adaptive reuse plans would conserve and renew the former North Sydney Gas Works Co office building at 286-294 Pacific Highway, project managers PDS said. 

The initial plans for the site were lodged in July 2022 on behalf of a private equity firm for a 14-storey building. 

However, it was an uphill struggle even from the pre-lodgement phase. 

Early discussions with the council suggested that the developers had not yet justified the height of the building, and that it “would adversely impact the heritage significance of the heritage item”.

“The scale, bulk and height are not considered appropriate having regard to its interface with the lower density residential properties to the south of the site,” the council said. 

As a result, the application was rejected, apparently less than a month after submission. 

Undeterred, PDS went back to work to amend its plans and submitted a revised version last week.

PDS said that the new development aimed to “align with and support the desired transformation of the Crows Nest centre as a vibrant, attractive and sustainable place supporting increased employment land uses and a diversity of residential accommodation in a high-density environment”. 

Crows Nest and neighbouring suburb St Leonards have seen accelerated development activity in recent years, with a $70-million development at 12-20 Berry Road and 11-19 Holdsworth Avenue at St Leonards is currently in front of Sydney North Planning Panel.

If approved, it will deliver two 10-storey residential buildings consisting of 130 apartments to the area.