Locals are concerned about plans for a new housing precinct in North Kensington, which will also involve some changes in terms of the zoning, height and density rules in the area.
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Based on planning documents, the new housing precinct would involve transitioning down to the proposed 7 and 5 storeys in the Housing Investigation Area (HIA) to the existing three and four storey walk-up apartments setback to either side of Anzac Parade, and to the lower scale one- and two-storey villas and semi-detached dwellings in the surrounding neighbourhoods.
The proposal is part of the Comprehensive Planning Proposal to amend Randwick City Council’s Local Environmental Plan (LEP).
As part of the LEP, Council is also considering rezoning 59A-71 Boronia Street and 77-103 Anzac Parade, Kensington (between Anzac Parade and Boronia Street).
“It is recommended that the optimum urban design outcome (building massing and height) for the Kensington North HIA, taking into consideration the existing and future surrounding built form context, is the proposed scenario with seven and five storey maximum height limits. Feasibility testing has demonstrated that this built form scenario is viable with a 5% Affordable Housing contribution,” the analysis report reads.
Locals’ concerns
Some members of the community are against these proposed changes, with some locals citing ‘overpopulation; and ‘increasing densities without the appropriate infrastructure’ as their top concerns.
According to the Randwick Council, LEPs need to be amended periodically “to ensure they meet best planning practice and are strategically aligned with community values and the directions of state plans.”
Whilst Council is vocal against overdevelopment in the area, Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker explained that the local government had to keep up with the NSW Government’s target to have as much as 4,464 new dwellings in the next 6-10 years.
“To limit the impact of these housing targets, our draft LEP proposes additional housing in areas well located to public transport, jobs and shops,” Mayor Parker said.
Meanwhile, the Council also encourages locals to have their say on the project, on the public exhibition which will be held at the Kensington Park Community Centre from 31 May to 12 July 2022.
The new housing proposed for Kensington North will be one of the new precincts proposed by the Randwick Council, along with those proposed for West Randwick, Arthur Street, Magill Street, and Kingsford South.
For more information about Council’s Kensington North HIA, visit randwick.nsw.gov.au.
