News

Have say on unit block height, plans

FUTURE higher density developments along the Woodville Road corridor will be split along three specific precincts under a proposed draft planning framework now open for public comment.

Presumptive heights of four to five storeys, along with other amendments to controls building density, setbacks and frontage, are proposed for precincts at Woodville North, Merrylands East and Woodville South.
However the former John Cootes site at 264 Woodville Road in Merrylands, which would be in the Merrylands East precinct, has already been rezoned earlier this year with a height of up 10 storeys.
The council is now assessing a mixed-use Development Application (DA) for the site, including 260 residential units plus retail and commercial floorspace along with a Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) for a neighbourhood centre and a 2,000sqm landscaped public park.
A Cumberland Council spokesperson confirmed the site had “greater height control” than proposed under the draft framework and said it reflected “the status of this site as a local centre and a focus of future development activity”.
She said the proposed planning framework for the corridor “complements the planning for the John Cootes site with a lower scale of development that minimises impacts on adjoining low density areas”.
“As this is early consultation, we are seeking community feedback before we confirm the number of storeys,” she said. “The range of storeys provided on the map is a guide to enable community feedback.”
Mayor Steve Christou says the corridor is considered to be important to securing future housing with good access to local and regional jobs “as well as meeting the needs of the community”.
Submissions close on December 18, with recommendations expected to be considered by the council in mid-2021.
Details: haveyoursay.cumberland.nsw.gov.au/woodville-road.