Proposals submitted for major residential development on northern beaches

The northern beaches skyline would be transformed under plans to send buildings skywards in Brookvale, boosting the number and height of residential towers in the largely industrial area.

Buildings could soar to 25 storeys under the Northern Beaches Council’s draft Brookvale precinct planning proposal, which would almost double its previous housing targets for the suburb to nearly 3000 homes.

The revised proposal includes the Warringah Mall shopping centre site, which retail giant Scentre Group wants to revamp with a town centre and 1500 units in buildings up to 39 storeys.

However, the council suggested in its proposal to the state government that only about 850 new homes should be built around the Pittwater Road mall in towers no taller than 25 storeys.

“The NSW government will need to consider the merits of both proposals as they make their assessments on the future of Brookvale,” the council said.

Both proposals represent a dramatic increase in building heights for the coastal area in Sydney’s north as the council aims to deliver sorely needed housing. The tallest building on the northern beaches is the 17-storey Meriton Lighthouse tower in nearby Dee Why.

In 2023, the council adopted plans to guide the long-term development of a future Brookvale town centre with at least 1350 units near the B-line bus stop on Pittwater Road.

But the revised plan for the suburb would enable the delivery of about 2900 homes (about five to 10 per cent of which would be affordable housing), a new town centre, employment space, public parks, open spaces and community facilities over the next 15 years.

Separately, Scentre Group had been working with the council on plans for the Westfield shops site, which sits in a mostly low-rise industrial and commercial area, after the Housing Delivery Authority declared the development as “state significant” last year, sending it on a faster route to approval.

The council said this meant the proposed rezoning and development application for the first stage of the project would bypass the council and instead be decided by the state’s planning bureaucrats.

Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the broader Brookvale proposal would build on its role as the area’s largest employment centre and had followed years of consultation and technical studies.

Heins said the proposal celebrated the suburb’s lively arts and brewery scene, local businesses, health services and industrial precinct, and would help revitalise the Pittwater Road corridor.

“Brookvale is the economic heart of the northern beaches and this proposal provides a clear plan to accommodate future growth while preserving the creativity and employment strengths that make the precinct unique,” Heins said.

Under the draft plan, a contributions levy would apply to development to deliver required public domain infrastructure and road upgrades. Extra building height (up to 25 storeys) and floor space on crucial sites would only be available where developments delivered identified public benefits.

The council submitted its proposal to the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure for so-called “gateway approval”, which would enable the plan to go on public exhibition next year.

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