Set back from the corner of New South Head Road and Glenmore Road in Edgecliff, a prominent inner-eastern Sydney location on a bus route, a short walk from Edgecliff Station, and close to the shops and services of the Edgecliff centre.

The existing commercial building is ageing and underused. This is a chance to activate an underperforming location in one of Sydney’s most connected inner-city villages, adding well-designed homes, including affordable housing that is rarely available in this part of the city, and improving the public domain for everyone who uses the area.

The site has been earmarked for density uplift in the Council’s Edgecliff Commercial Centre Strategy and is part of the western ‘gateway’ to the centre.

This proposal is assessed as State Significant Development (SSD) and includes a concurrent rezoning (amending Woollahra LEP to allow for the proposed increase in height and FSR). It follows the NSW Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) pathway: the concept has progressed through the HDA’s assessment process, and a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) will be lodged with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. The NSW Government, not Woollahra Council, is the consent authority. Once lodged, the application goes on public exhibition (usually around 28 days), during which anyone can make a formal submission.

The building is designed by MHNDU with the neighbourhood’s character as the starting point, drawing on the rhythm, proportion and fine-grain detail of Edgecliff and Paddington’s terrace tradition. At ground level, active commercial uses animate both street frontages, and a new through-site pedestrian link opens up the block for the first time.

The site is served by buses on both sides of New South Head Road, with Edgecliff Station a short 250m walk away. The design is built around that transit access, the number of car spaces provided is actually below Woollahra Council’s standard requirement, which is in line with Woollahra Council’s advice and desire to reduce the reliance on private vehicles in the Edgecliff Commercial Zone.

A traffic and transport impact assessment forms part of the application and will be public when it goes on exhibition.

Any building of this scale has some impact on views and sunlight, and we want to be honest about that. The proposal is deliberately split into two buildings rather than one, which reduces overshadowing and view loss.

Detailed view and solar-access studies form part of the application and will be public when it goes on exhibition.

A build of this scale will be felt locally. A Construction Environmental Management Plan will govern the whole build, covering access, working hours, noise, dust and traffic, with a named community contact for the life of the works. Full details form part of the application.

We’ll create several ways to learn more, ask questions and give feedback. Register to stay informed and you’ll be first to hear about upcoming events and when the application goes on public exhibition. In the meantime, head to our ‘Have Your Say’ page to complete a short survey.