Plans for Sydney's north shore see development reduced and new parks added

The NSW Government has announced a commitment to 8.5 hectares of extra parkland with part of the extra open space to be created through converting the Holtermann Street car park in the centre of Crows Nest into a 1700 metre2 parkland (a car park will be built under the park). The parklands will be partly funded by an increase in developer contributions.

The draft St Leonards Crows Nest 2036 plan, released almost two years ago, sparked widespread concerns about the extent of development.

Following this community concern about overdevelopment, the NSW government has cut the allowable building heights at five sites in St Leonards and Crows Nest by between 13 and 23 storeys with the tallest buildings permitted (on a site adjacent to the the Pacific Highway capped at 42 storeys, down from 61).

The final plans for St Leonards and Crows Nest sees the number of dwellings planned to be built by 2036 reduced to 6683, from 7500 earlier.

In its released final 2036 Plan, the NSW Government has also included new parks and public spaces, better pedestrian access and more employment space - considered to enhance the heart of Crows Nest and St Leonards.

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the plan will guide the delivery of a greener, better connected and vibrant Crows Nest and St Leonards noting “the community told us they wanted more green space that enhanced local neighbourhoods, and a plan that provided certainty on what future development will look like and where it will be.

“We have listened, with significant changes made to the final plan to ensure St Leonards and Crows Nest will be a greener, thriving employment hub with better transport and pedestrian connections for local residents, workers and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.”

Member for North Shore Felicity Wilson advised “we have secured a massive $78 million for new and improved public spaces across St Leonards and Crows Nest, including the new ‘Metro Park’ on Holtermann Street for our community that will be delivered ahead of Metro development.

“From the village feel of Willoughby Rd and Crows Nest, to the bustling commercial centre around St Leonards, we wanted to reflect the community’s call for a final plan that protected and enhanced the unique character of our local area and delivered the community infrastructure that makes for great places to live – this plan delivers that and more.”

Key changes to the final plan following community consultation, include:

• A 10% reduction in new dwellings;

• More than $78 million secured from developer contributions for new parks and public spaces (an increase of $20 million);

• Planting of more than 2,000 new trees;

• Doubling the employment space, with an extra 119,979metre2 of commercial floor space to support more than 16,500 jobs; and

• $20 million secured from developer contributions for new education facilities.

North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson said the NSW Government had listened to community concerns and the final blueprint was a "good result", especially the extra parkland planned for Crows Nest noting "It is bereft of open space, and we are very pleased negotiations went as we hoped.”

The final plan will see more than $116 million captured in Special Infrastructure Contributions from developers to support the delivery of critical infrastructure such as road upgrades, education facilities and active transport links across St Leonards and Crows Nest.

The release of the final long-term plan comes after the government approved rezoning of land at Crows Nest to enable development above a new metro train station, which is under construction as part of the City and Southwest rail line between Chatswood and Bankstown via Sydney's CBD. The new rail line is due to open in 2024.

The community will get to have its say on the Crows Nest Metro State significant concept development application when it is re-exhibited in mid-September.

For more information, and to view the final plan visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/stleonardscrowsnest

Image: Aerial view of Sydney’s north shore