Premium Housing Projects Slated for Freshwater, Manly

Plans now before the Northern Beaches Council propose premium housing and retail projects at Freshwater and Manly.

At Freshwater, Lawrence Street Pty Ltd has lodged plans for a $31.4-million shoptop housing development.

The four-storey project put forward for a10-28 Lawrence Street, 2km north of Manly’s CBD and 600m north-west of Freshwater Beach, comprises 30 apartments plus above-ground-floor retail space.

The apartments would be six one-bedroom, 15 two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom apartments, the planned 1379sq m of retail space would be configured for between four and nine tenancies.

Plans prepared by Ethos Urban outline a bi-level subterranean basement providing 106 parking spaces—44 for residential use and 62 for retail.

The development incorporates a 268sq m public plaza and rooftop communal space and is targeting a minimum 4-star GBCA Green Star Building v1 rating.

The proposal is seeking a height variation to 16.35m against the 13.45m limit, which would affect the rooftop communal space and lift overrun.

The application cites the delivery of affordable housing and public plaza as justification for the variation.

The development addresses heritage considerations as the site neighbours two heritage items: the Harbord Literary Institute and Early Childhood Health Centre. The Heritage Impact Statement confirms no adverse impacts on these properties.

Meanwhile, Time & Place has lodged a planning submission for 101 North Steyne in Sydney’s prestigious northerof n beach suburb Manly.

Planning documents, prepared by Willowtree Planning, detail a five-storey project, designed by Smart Design Studio, of seven premium apartments with basement parking for 16 vehicles.

“The proposal seeks to achieve a calm and coherent form that sits comfortably in its coastal location site,” the application said.

“A careful composition of curved and arched forms offers visual variety, interest and articulation and draws on the shapes and volumes of buildings in the local context.”

The Manly development emphasises sustainability through photovoltaic panels, high-performance facades and a green roof system.

The project seeks variations to height (16.4m versus 13m) and floor-space ratio (1.93:1 versus 1.5:1), “supported by consistency with surrounding developments and design measures to minimise adverse impacts”.

“The proposed landscaping is central to creating an engaging and harmonious environment,” the application said, “enhancing aesthetics and sustainability while creating a verdant street frontage to North Steyne, improving the public domain.”

The development features low embodied carbon materials and efficient water conservation fixtures, while acknowledging local heritage elements such as the stone kerbs along North Steyne.

Time & Place director Evan Papadopoulos said this marked the developer’s second residential development at Manly.

It follows the successful approval of 35-43 Belgrave Street nearby, which is permit-approved for a 5-storey development delivering 21 premium two and three-bedroom homes.

Construction staging and timelines remain under consideration for both projects, with builder appointment methods yet to be determined.

The Freshwater development’s period runs until March 17

There’s been a wave of sho-top development applications across the Northern Beaches, including Balito Investments’ seniors-focused proposal at North Curl Curl, FourJs Group’s childcare-retail fusion at Avalon Beach, and Time & Place’s $100-million Manly development.

The Urban Developer Property and Economic Outlook | For property development professionals in the Greater Sydney region. Click here