North Sydney Council has pushed back on a bold plan by Arkadia Property Services to redevelop a key Neutral Bay site into four mixed-use towers up to 12-storeys, with staff recommending against advancing the planning proposal.
The proposal, covering 166 – 188 and 198 – 214 Military Road, was designed to transform a fragmented commercial strip into a new civic and residential hub anchored by a 730 sqm community centre, but Council’s consultants deemed it ‘inconsistent’ with adopted planning studies and lacking sufficient public benefit.
A height increase from 16 metres to 45 metres was proposed, equating to around 140 apartments and over 4,500 sqm of retail and commercial office space.
The redevelopment aims to revitalise the Neutral Bay Town Centre through:
Independent consultant Ingham Planning, engaged by Council, found the proposal lacked both strategic and site-specific merit, arguing it exceeded the intent of the Neutral Bay Village Planning Study, which caps the building height at 6 storeys.
North Sydney Planning Panel shared those concerns in August, advising the scheme should not proceed to gateway.
Arkadia is now asking for a rezoning review with the NSW planning department to contest Council’s decision – a pathway available when rezonings are refused or not progressed within 90 days.
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