Name Withheld
Support
Name Withheld
Support
Sydney
,
New South Wales
Message
16th September 2016
Mr Andy Nixey
Specialist Planner
Key Sites Assessments
NSW Planning & Environment
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Reference: 85 HARRINGTON STREET, THE ROCKS (SSD7037) - LETTER OF SUPPORT
Dear Mr Nixey,
I am the owner of an apartment at The Cove in Harrington Street, Sydney and have recently examined the plans of the development and know the site well. I wish to offer my support to the proposal, for the reasons outlined below.
- The proposal will enhance the local area by providing new pedestrian linkages and public domain improvements, demonstrating a thorough and well thought through design process
- Whilst innovation and forward thinking is clearly evident, respect for the heritage setting of the area is maintained. Design of the development will not in my view compromise the existing character of Harrington Street and the broader The Rocks area, and will in fact visually beautify the immediate street frontages as a result of replacing the less than complimentary design of the current building
- The high end design of the apartments themselves by a respected Sydney architect is complementary to neighboring properties
Creation of local job opportunities as a result of again, a well thought through combination of retail and commercial elements, that also allows synergies with the residential element
- I thank you for the opportunity to provide my comments and firmly believe the development will overall be a welcome addition to the area. With that it mind, it is my recommendation that the NSW Department of Planning & Environment approve the application.
Kind Regards
Lena Hunt
Mr Andy Nixey
Specialist Planner
Key Sites Assessments
NSW Planning & Environment
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Reference: 85 HARRINGTON STREET, THE ROCKS (SSD7037) - LETTER OF SUPPORT
Dear Mr Nixey,
I am the owner of an apartment at The Cove in Harrington Street, Sydney and have recently examined the plans of the development and know the site well. I wish to offer my support to the proposal, for the reasons outlined below.
- The proposal will enhance the local area by providing new pedestrian linkages and public domain improvements, demonstrating a thorough and well thought through design process
- Whilst innovation and forward thinking is clearly evident, respect for the heritage setting of the area is maintained. Design of the development will not in my view compromise the existing character of Harrington Street and the broader The Rocks area, and will in fact visually beautify the immediate street frontages as a result of replacing the less than complimentary design of the current building
- The high end design of the apartments themselves by a respected Sydney architect is complementary to neighboring properties
Creation of local job opportunities as a result of again, a well thought through combination of retail and commercial elements, that also allows synergies with the residential element
- I thank you for the opportunity to provide my comments and firmly believe the development will overall be a welcome addition to the area. With that it mind, it is my recommendation that the NSW Department of Planning & Environment approve the application.
Kind Regards
Lena Hunt
Director - Advocacy
Object
Director - Advocacy
Object
Sydney
,
New South Wales
Message
15 September 2016
Department of Planning and Environment
Attn: Director - Key Sites Assessments
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Dear Sir/Madam,
Mixed Use Development, 75-85 Harrington Street, The Rocks (SSD 15_7037)
The National Trust lodges a strong objection to this inappropriate and insensitive development proposal within Australia's most historic heritage urban area.
The Trust deplores the poor consultation and total lack of community engagement generally with regard to State Significant Developments. We also note that the nominated project type for this development is `State Significant Site' but it is not on the list of gazetted State Significant Sites nor is it on the list of proposed State Significant Sites as published on the Major Projects Website.
With regards to consultation and community engagement the Trust notes the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements regarding Consultation -
"During the preparation of the EIS, you must consult with the relevant local, State or Commonwealth Government authorities, service providers, community groups and affected landowners. In particular, you must consult with:
* City of Sydney Council.
* Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
* EPA.
* Office of Heritage and Environment.
* Sydney Water.
* Transport for NSW.
* Roads and Maritime Services.
* Sydney Trains.
* Local Aboriginal Land Council and stakeholders, if relevant.
* Local heritage groups, if relevant.
The EIS must describe the consultation process and the issues raised, and identify where the design of the development has been amended in response to these issues. Where amendments have not been made to address an issue, a short explanation should be provided." (National Trust bolding)
The National Trust has been based in The Rocks/Millers Point for the past forty years and was the body to first investigate and assess the heritage significance and list on the National Trust Register "The Rocks Conservation Area" in 1978 and 101 individual buildings, spaces and items in this area, most in the period 1973 - 1978.
The Urbis staff indicated as responsible for the preparation of the Heritage Impact Statement should have been well aware of the work and involvement of the National Trust in The Rocks.
"The Rocks" is clearly of State Heritage Significance irrespective of its current statutory listing status.
The National Trust is not aware of any contact from Urbis or the project's proponents or other consultants and certainly no consultation or engagement on this issue, in direct contradiction of the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements regarding Consultation.
Given the failings of the system set out above, this is the first opportunity for the National Trust to put its views on the disturbing and unprecedented development proposal.
The application for a variation to the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority Scheme is being made by Urbis. However, Urbis is also the author of the Heritage Impact Statement, and could not seriously be expected to raise concerns or flag adverse impacts which may put the application in jeopardy. There clearly needs to be an independent Heritage Impact Statement to avoid this obvious conflict of interest.
The variation proposal seeks an increase in height from RL 41.0 to RL 49.97, an increase of 9 metres.
The Heritage Impact Statement recognises that the proposal will be a large scale development in Gloucester Street, but fails to acknowledge that the principle of the height controls in the southern zone was to keep heights low north of the Cahill Expressway. This proposal creates a very concerning precedent for building heights north of the Cahill Expressway.
An examination of the elevations of the proposed building show that it is completely out of scale for the area and completely out of context. The variation recognizes that the proposal has "very large east and west elevations."
The variation seeks to claim that the existing built form relates poorly to its surrounding context. However, in the National Trust's view, the existing built form blends remarkably well with the scale and form of The Rocks.
The National Trust strongly disagrees with the claim that the proposal "blends seamlessly with the streetscape" and is a "good contextual fit." It does not and is not.
The variation attempts to claim public benefits when in fact there are no public benefits. The suggested public benefit of opening the existing through site link to the sky will result in the exposure of the huge discrepancy in scale between the existing Gloucester Street terraces and the proposed 10 storey building.
In fact the Heritage Impact Statement makes only passing reference to the proposed new buildings and mostly focuses on the Gloucester Street Terraces. The Statement tries to ignore the "elephant in the room".
This application proposes the demolition of a very recent building, a building carefully designed to fit into the Rocks Urban Conservation area. This was a very early Conservation Area and the development proposal flaunts many years of careful planning and previous considerations regarding scale and impact of developments.
The developer is seeking a larger envelope in direct contradiction of the SCRA Scheme's intention for low scale north of the Cahill Expressway. This was the original trade off for development in The Rocks - so that the character of the townscape could be retained.
Two of the oldest surviving blocks of housing in Sydney are in close proximity - Susannah Place (1844)
and the Jobbins Building (1850s). The Jobbins building used to have harbour views which have since been blocked. Views to the existing building down Longs Lane etc were all carefully considered in the SCRA scheme.
The developer has commissioned both the Conservation Management Plan and the Statement of Heritage Impact. The Trust would expect that the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority should have been extensively consulted in the preparation of these documents.
The existing building at 75-85 Harrington Street is of such recent construction that it could not possibly need replacing. The Trust questions whether the development proponents are aware of the concept of sustainable retrofitting.
The National Trust objects in the strongest possible terms to this development proposal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Quint
Director - Advocacy
The National Trust of Australia (NSW)
Department of Planning and Environment
Attn: Director - Key Sites Assessments
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Dear Sir/Madam,
Mixed Use Development, 75-85 Harrington Street, The Rocks (SSD 15_7037)
The National Trust lodges a strong objection to this inappropriate and insensitive development proposal within Australia's most historic heritage urban area.
The Trust deplores the poor consultation and total lack of community engagement generally with regard to State Significant Developments. We also note that the nominated project type for this development is `State Significant Site' but it is not on the list of gazetted State Significant Sites nor is it on the list of proposed State Significant Sites as published on the Major Projects Website.
With regards to consultation and community engagement the Trust notes the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements regarding Consultation -
"During the preparation of the EIS, you must consult with the relevant local, State or Commonwealth Government authorities, service providers, community groups and affected landowners. In particular, you must consult with:
* City of Sydney Council.
* Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority
* EPA.
* Office of Heritage and Environment.
* Sydney Water.
* Transport for NSW.
* Roads and Maritime Services.
* Sydney Trains.
* Local Aboriginal Land Council and stakeholders, if relevant.
* Local heritage groups, if relevant.
The EIS must describe the consultation process and the issues raised, and identify where the design of the development has been amended in response to these issues. Where amendments have not been made to address an issue, a short explanation should be provided." (National Trust bolding)
The National Trust has been based in The Rocks/Millers Point for the past forty years and was the body to first investigate and assess the heritage significance and list on the National Trust Register "The Rocks Conservation Area" in 1978 and 101 individual buildings, spaces and items in this area, most in the period 1973 - 1978.
The Urbis staff indicated as responsible for the preparation of the Heritage Impact Statement should have been well aware of the work and involvement of the National Trust in The Rocks.
"The Rocks" is clearly of State Heritage Significance irrespective of its current statutory listing status.
The National Trust is not aware of any contact from Urbis or the project's proponents or other consultants and certainly no consultation or engagement on this issue, in direct contradiction of the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements regarding Consultation.
Given the failings of the system set out above, this is the first opportunity for the National Trust to put its views on the disturbing and unprecedented development proposal.
The application for a variation to the Sydney Cove Redevelopment Authority Scheme is being made by Urbis. However, Urbis is also the author of the Heritage Impact Statement, and could not seriously be expected to raise concerns or flag adverse impacts which may put the application in jeopardy. There clearly needs to be an independent Heritage Impact Statement to avoid this obvious conflict of interest.
The variation proposal seeks an increase in height from RL 41.0 to RL 49.97, an increase of 9 metres.
The Heritage Impact Statement recognises that the proposal will be a large scale development in Gloucester Street, but fails to acknowledge that the principle of the height controls in the southern zone was to keep heights low north of the Cahill Expressway. This proposal creates a very concerning precedent for building heights north of the Cahill Expressway.
An examination of the elevations of the proposed building show that it is completely out of scale for the area and completely out of context. The variation recognizes that the proposal has "very large east and west elevations."
The variation seeks to claim that the existing built form relates poorly to its surrounding context. However, in the National Trust's view, the existing built form blends remarkably well with the scale and form of The Rocks.
The National Trust strongly disagrees with the claim that the proposal "blends seamlessly with the streetscape" and is a "good contextual fit." It does not and is not.
The variation attempts to claim public benefits when in fact there are no public benefits. The suggested public benefit of opening the existing through site link to the sky will result in the exposure of the huge discrepancy in scale between the existing Gloucester Street terraces and the proposed 10 storey building.
In fact the Heritage Impact Statement makes only passing reference to the proposed new buildings and mostly focuses on the Gloucester Street Terraces. The Statement tries to ignore the "elephant in the room".
This application proposes the demolition of a very recent building, a building carefully designed to fit into the Rocks Urban Conservation area. This was a very early Conservation Area and the development proposal flaunts many years of careful planning and previous considerations regarding scale and impact of developments.
The developer is seeking a larger envelope in direct contradiction of the SCRA Scheme's intention for low scale north of the Cahill Expressway. This was the original trade off for development in The Rocks - so that the character of the townscape could be retained.
Two of the oldest surviving blocks of housing in Sydney are in close proximity - Susannah Place (1844)
and the Jobbins Building (1850s). The Jobbins building used to have harbour views which have since been blocked. Views to the existing building down Longs Lane etc were all carefully considered in the SCRA scheme.
The developer has commissioned both the Conservation Management Plan and the Statement of Heritage Impact. The Trust would expect that the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority should have been extensively consulted in the preparation of these documents.
The existing building at 75-85 Harrington Street is of such recent construction that it could not possibly need replacing. The Trust questions whether the development proponents are aware of the concept of sustainable retrofitting.
The National Trust objects in the strongest possible terms to this development proposal.
Yours sincerely
Graham Quint
Director - Advocacy
The National Trust of Australia (NSW)
Francis Chu
Support
Francis Chu
Support
The Rocks
,
New South Wales
Message
85 HARRINGTON STREET, THE ROCKS (SSD7037) - LETTER OF SUPPORT
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the abovementioned development application.
I am the owner of 25B 171 Gloucester street, The Rocks. I wanted to provide my full support for this application for the following key reasons:
* The proposal will enhance the local area by providing new pedestrian linkages and public domain improvements.
* A range of new job opportunities are provided in the retail and commercial elements of the project
* The design of the residential apartments are of a very high design quality by a very highly reputable Sydney architect
* The development is in keeping with the significant heritage setting of The Rocks and the local area.
Based on the above, I recommend that the NSW Department of Planning & Environment approve the application.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the abovementioned development application.
I am the owner of 25B 171 Gloucester street, The Rocks. I wanted to provide my full support for this application for the following key reasons:
* The proposal will enhance the local area by providing new pedestrian linkages and public domain improvements.
* A range of new job opportunities are provided in the retail and commercial elements of the project
* The design of the residential apartments are of a very high design quality by a very highly reputable Sydney architect
* The development is in keeping with the significant heritage setting of The Rocks and the local area.
Based on the above, I recommend that the NSW Department of Planning & Environment approve the application.
Evelyne Bonnet
Object
Evelyne Bonnet
Object
Millers Point
,
New South Wales
Message
The proposed development's size and scale dwarfs the heritage-listed terraces along Gloucester Street including the much visited Susannah's Place Museum and Shop.
It is important to note The Rocks is Australia's pre-eminent heritage-listed precinct where keeping the historical integrity of the streetscape is crucial. The 9/10 storey buildings proposed on both Harrington Street and Gloucester streets are not in keeping with the surrounding streetscape's height and scale and look totally out of character.
These buildings's height should be reduced to a 6 storey minimum so they do not dominate the historic streetscape and surrounding heritage terraces.
The development's height must be reduced so it falls within the agreed height limits of the area. These height limits have been set to protect the character and existing streetscape of The Rocks, one of the only heritage listed precincts of Australia.
The height limits have been set as maximum building height which may be achieved by any proposed development, not as a starting point.
It is important to note The Rocks is Australia's pre-eminent heritage-listed precinct where keeping the historical integrity of the streetscape is crucial. The 9/10 storey buildings proposed on both Harrington Street and Gloucester streets are not in keeping with the surrounding streetscape's height and scale and look totally out of character.
These buildings's height should be reduced to a 6 storey minimum so they do not dominate the historic streetscape and surrounding heritage terraces.
The development's height must be reduced so it falls within the agreed height limits of the area. These height limits have been set to protect the character and existing streetscape of The Rocks, one of the only heritage listed precincts of Australia.
The height limits have been set as maximum building height which may be achieved by any proposed development, not as a starting point.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Holsworthy
,
New South Wales
Message
I object to the proposed height increase of the new building.
The new building should be at the same height as the current building that stands.
The new building should be at the same height as the current building that stands.
Name Withheld
Comment
Name Withheld
Comment
Redfern
,
New South Wales
Message
On the highly prominent location in the city, it would be highly desirable to build an iconic building Sydney will cherish. A building that is unique and will complete the streets and embrace historic fabric of the Rocks precinct. This includes any new residential apartment in this area. The current proposal is just like another apartment I've seen before somewhere.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
THE ROCKS
,
New South Wales
Message
Whilst I do not object to the existing buildings being demolished and/ or re-furbished... I do object to the suggestion that they will be replaced by a higher building.
Please preserve the " height " of the existing buildings and not allow these new buildings to be any higher than the ones that are being replaced.
This is a sensitive area and the "ambience" will be destroyed if the existing height restriction is allowed to be increased.
Please preserve the " height " of the existing buildings and not allow these new buildings to be any higher than the ones that are being replaced.
This is a sensitive area and the "ambience" will be destroyed if the existing height restriction is allowed to be increased.
NSW EPA
Comment
NSW EPA
Comment