Global Awards News

LONDON: A disability housing project is being challenged by residents despite its semi-commercial location.

Plans have been lodged for a four-storey, $6.9 million unit block at Toukley which is almost 20 per cent taller than what is allowed under the site’s planning controls.

But the proponent behind the project claims the noncompliance is okay because nine out of the 20 units are for affordable housing, the roof parapet is the only over-height part and the building, generally, is in keeping with the area’s increasing density.

The proposal for 33-35 Athol St will go before the Central Coast Local Planning Panel on Thursday, which is recommending Central Coast Council approves the $6.93 million development application (DA).

A report to the planning panel’s meeting states the maximum height allowed under the existing planning control is 12m but this proposed building is 1.45m taller on the eastern side and up to 2.71m over height for its skillion roof, which is a total building height variation of 18.9 per cent.

The panel is also assessing the proposal under the “affordable rental housing” planning laws given two of the 20 units will be set aside and managed by a low-cost housing provider and a further seven units will be earmarked for specialist disability accommodation.

The remaining 11 units — being six one-bedroom and five two-bedroom units — will be standard apartments sold and leased at usual market rates.

Under the DA, the two single level existing houses on the blocks at 33 and 35 Athol St would be demolished and consolidated to make room for the four-storey building which would include basement parking for 22 cars.

“This noncompliance is considered acceptable in this instance as it does not result in any overshadowing, view loss or privacy impacts to adjoining sites and provides improved

solar access to Unit 18 located on the southern side of the building,” the report to the Local Planning Panel meeting states.

“The application does result in overshadowing of the site to the east on winter afternoons, but the top floor setback reduces the extent of this and a fully complying building could be constructed that results in greater overshadowing.

“Having regard for the context of the site in an area that is in the midst of transition, emerging from historically low scale residential housing to medium density residential land uses typically three to four storeys in height with the town centre permitting up to six to nine storey buildings, the proposal achieves key objectives of both the height and the zone by maintaining (in number of storeys) with development in the locality.”