The Land and Environment Court has rejected plans to turn a property at 9 Porters Lane and 30-30c Shinfield Ave into 17 seniors units after developers Mackenzie Architects International appealed Ku-ring-gai Council’s refusal of the plans last year.The 65-year-old home is listed by the council as a heritage item in recognition of its post-war ”international style” design and as an example of early residential development in St Ives as the suburb transitioned from agricultural uses.
The $10.9 million development proposal had planned to adapt the home into two seniors dwellings alongside 15 additional seniors units on the block, as well as demolition of structures on the site including a garage.The council rejected the plans due to concerns including “inadequate” design qualities and “unacceptable impacts” on the heritage values of the existing property.Nearby residents attended on-site court meetings to raise additional concerns including loss of trees, traffic congestion, and an “unacceptable amenity impact on neighbours”.
Mackenzie Architects International said the project was aimed at meeting the ageing population of the upper north shore by providing seniors housing within the area.Court commissioner Susan O’Neill rejected the plans due to loss of heritage along with the “bulk, scale and built form” of the proposed building.“The proposal does not retain, complement and sensitively harmonise with the heritage item (and) would have a detrimental effect on the heritage significance of the item,” she said.The decision comes amid a rise in the number of interim heritage protection orders placed on homes in the upper north shore including 6 Springdale Rd in Killara.An interim order has also been placed on 207 Eastern Rd in Wahroonga.
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