I am writing to object to the proposed development at 47 Darby Street Cooks Hill. It is excessively bulky and high, and will overwhelm the key civic assets sounding the location. I also think a building of this size will create traffic and safety concerns. I have written to Ms Dolwer in the NSW planning department to formally object. Thank you for receiving this feedback.

I have become aware that Newcastle Council planning control has been removed for projects greater than $30m. And that a property company is taking advantage of this with a proposed development at 47 Darby Street, Newcastle. The development is poised to set a highly undesirable precedent that could also threaten Heritage areas like the one that I live in. The proponent appears to be Vivacity Property working with capital partner DFCorval. The combined enterprise is profit orientated not community orientated. Investors are encouraged on basis of high returns. I believe that could mean, high end prices for the finished products (not community sympathetic) and, a possible short fall in building and construction outcomes.
For these, and other reasons, I would like to oppose the development at 47 Darby Street. And hope that you as our local member will convey these feelings to the appropriate places.

In regard to the proposed development at 47 Darby St . I would hate to see the cultural fabric of our fine city destroyed by such large and ugly buildings within the civic precinct.
As our state representative, I urge you to oppose all such manifestations of high rise blocks in the most beautiful part of our city and protect what we have.
Please do consider this request.

I am writing to lodge a formal objection to the proposed development at 47 Tyrell Street, Newcastle. While I understand the need for thoughtful growth and renewal within our city, this proposal represents an inappropriate and excessive form of development that threatens the character, heritage, and civic integrity of its setting.

1. Impact on Newcastle’s Major Civic Square
The site sits in close proximity to Newcastle’s principal civic square — the area formed around Civic Park and fronted by some of the city’s most important civic and cultural buildings: the Town Hall, the Round House, the Conservatorium of Music, the Library, and the newly extended Newcastle Art Gallery. Together, these create a cohesive civic and cultural precinct of exceptional significance. The Margel Hinder fountain, a recognised public artwork and landmark, contributes further to the cultural and aesthetic unity of this square. Any new development in its visual catchment must therefore be sympathetic in scale, form, and materiality. The proposed development fails to respect this context and would detract from the visual coherence and dignity of this important civic setting.

2. Impact on the Heritage Conservation Areas of Cooks Hill and The Hill
The site sits on the edge of, and within view of, two of Newcastle’s key heritage conservation areas — Cooks Hill and The Hill. These areas are valued for their historic streetscapes, human-scale development, and architectural cohesion. The proposed building, by virtue of its bulk, height, and modern form, would be visually intrusive and inconsistent with the established heritage character of these neighbourhoods. It risks undermining the heritage values that have long been protected and celebrated in this part of the city.

3. Availability of Suitable Areas for High-Rise Development
Newcastle has already identified and zoned appropriate precincts for high-rise and intensive urban development, notably in Newcastle West and parts of Honeysuckle. These areas have the infrastructure, planning controls, and urban form suited to such density. The proposed development at 47 Tyrell Street falls outside these designated zones and therefore represents an inappropriate location for high-rise construction.

4. Inappropriate and Overdevelopment of the Site
The proposal constitutes overdevelopment, both in terms of its scale and its disregard for the surrounding urban and heritage context. Its height, bulk, and massing are excessive relative to neighbouring properties and would create overshadowing, loss of visual amenity, and an imbalance in the established built form. The design fails to respond sensitively to the site’s constraints and the broader civic setting.

In conclusion, I urge the Government to refuse this application in its current form. The proposal is inconsistent with the character and planning intent of the area and would have lasting negative impacts on Newcastle’s most significant civic and heritage precincts.

Thank you for considering this submission. I would appreciate being kept informed of any future amendments or decisions regarding this proposal.

Hey mate, my wife and I live at 17 Bull St.
The development at 47 Darby street is insulting.

There’s all that land in the rail corridor along the train line being wasted. You have also just advertised that some ‘low income housing’ is being built near the lucky hotel and it’s only like half a dozen story’s if that.

I’d love to see more development around Darby street like a Melbourne style tram system running from civic out the the junction, so appartments are good….. but if I need to jump through hoops to paint the facade of my terrace to “maintain a heritage community” why on earth is a tower taller than the round house down the road.

That area DESPERATELY needs a low cost parking tower!! Every weekend the nesca park area is filled to the brim with people parking and walking to Darby street.
People from out of town are also begging to avoid Darby due to parking issues.

Public transport, then parking station THEN build the towers…….

I understand this is a state government thing but that planning website is awful and I couldn’t get access so this is my last effort.

Thankyou for your time

To: MP Tim Crakanthorp
Re: application number (SSD-82276964)
Submission in Opposition to Proposed Development at 47 Darby Street and Tyrell Street, Cooks Hill, Newcastle. 2300.

This proposal's oversized design will irreversibly damage the Civic precinct's heritage character. The scale, height, and style of this development fail to respect the surrounding dwellings, setting a precedent for high-rise buildings in areas not designated in the city of Newcastle's overall planning.

Our objection to this development is made on the following grounds:
• The scale of this high-rise development detracts from the precinct’s heritage and community amenity, given its location near significant public spaces such as Newcastle Art Gallery, Library and Civic Park and surrounding heritage buildings in a conservation area.
• The height of the 12-storey Darby Street building at 45m is well above the 14-metre height limit set by the Newcastle LEP. The height of the 7-storey apartment block at the Tyrrell Street Building, at 27.7m, is twice the 14m maximum current LEP height.
• By fast-tracking the approval process and by-passing zoning rules, the usual checks and balances will not be able to properly assess the full impact of this development.
• Council previously objected to the demolition of the existing warehouse, citing its contributory heritage value under the Newcastle DCP. Why is this no longer an issue?
• Not incorporating on-site affordable dwellings and instead offering a contribution to the Newcastle Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme is against the spirit and intent of the terms of this mandate.
• The urban design, massing, and transition to surrounding residential and heritage areas can deliver the “design excellence” claimed. Council’s earlier advice and the site’s position within a heritage conservation area mean that built form, overshadowing, and visual impact will be closely examined.
• Although we support the inclusion of affordable housing in new developments, this proposal does not provide that; it proposes a donation to affordable housing, which is not really in the spirit of this mandate.

Your sincerely,
(Name withheld)
507/67 Watt Street,
Newcastle East. 2300.

I'm all for development if it's done well to suit the site and surrounding area but this is not the case here. The height is way too big! It will look like a ridiculous behemoth in such a lovely part of town.

This is an excellent, high quality project that will enhance the vibrance of the area, and is very well located, with good transport, parks and beaches nearby.
The mix of apartments is excellent for increasing the liveability of the inner city of Newcastle. This area is an excellent location for further densification, and will further support the liveability of the Newcastle area. The site is well-suited for apartment buildings, and if anything, could be taller than proposed without any ill effects.
While not currently a resident of the area, I have spent a lot of my life in and around Darby St. I also have many friends and family in the area, and the cost of housing is a significant source of stress and anxiety for them. It is essential that more housing is built. NSW is in the midst of an intense shortage of housing, and it is essential that more housing be delivered. Projects such as these improve housing affordability across the Newcastle-Sydney region, as more housing enables more choice for both owners and renters.
There is extensive research showing that "moving chains" of people across the region means that even lower income residents benefit from the creation of higher value (often pejoritavely termed "luxury") apartments. By reducing competition for excessively limited housing, people on lower incomes are not forced to compete against those with greater spending power.
In short, there is no serious reason to oppose this development.