"A vibrant local centre that meets the needs and aspirations of the community. A network of high amenity public open spaces, pedestrian-friendly laneways and community facilities will support residents, workers, students and visitors of all ages and ability to gather, rest, and socialise."
- Vision for Neutral Bay Village

Latest Update - Key Landowner Schemes in Neutral Bay

Since the preparation of the planning study, the key landowners have pursued the following development proposals:

• Equitibuild (06 April 2023): Planning Proposal for 12-storey mixed-use development
• Coles (01 September 2023): Development Application for 7-storey mixed-use development
• Arkadia (29 October 2024): Planning Proposal for 9-12 storey mixed use-towers
• Woolworths (6 November 2024): Development Application for 6-8 storey mixed-use development

These projects are at varying stages in the planning process. Council continues to negotiate/advocate for design and public benefit outcomes as outlined in the planning study and Council resolution.

One of the key public benefits identified in the study is the delivery of a pedestrianised plaza in place of the existing car park located at Grosvenor Lane. The plaza could potentially be delivered through one or more of the above development proposals through a planning agreement with Council or a tender process for interested parties to utilise Council land at the Grosvenor Lane car park. The optimal manner in which this may be achieved is still being explored and further updates will be provided when a clearer pathway has been established.

Update - Council Resolution - 27 May 2024

At its meeting on 27 May 2024, Council considered a post-exhibition report on the Neutral Bay Village Planning Study (NBVPS).

Council resolved to adopt the Neutral Bay Village Planning Study, with amendments, as the strategic development framework for the Neutral Bay local centre. The amendments:

• set a maximum building height of six storeys across the centre;
• support the inclusion of affordable housing to be maintained in perpetuity in all new 6-storey developments; and
• delete figures 7-14 and 7-15 on page 125 of 525 of the report (page 89 of the study) to align with the Probity Plan for the Grosvenor Lane Car Park.

The meeting minutes can be accessed here.

Neutral Bay Village Planning Study

The Neutral Bay Village Planning Study has been prepared to guide future development, protect existing employment opportunities through carefully managed height increases within the town centre, and deliver much-needed improvements to the public domain and community facilities.

The endorsed objectives of the planning study are to:

1. address the decline of employment in the centre which results from Council’s current planning controls.
2. facilitate carefully planned development including targeted modest increases in height and density while maintaining and enhancing the village atmosphere of the centre.
3. secure a range of community benefits from planned and limited growth.
4. ensure that the scale of growth proposed, has a better balance between development height and the provision of additional public open space compared with the Military Road Corridor Planning Study, which was rescinded in 2022.

The draft study was on public exhibition from Tuesday 27 February 2024 to Tuesday 2 April 2024 inclusive. The Neutral Bay Village Planning Study was adopted on 27 May 2024, with amendments (refer to Council Resolution).

The adopted Neutral Bay Village Planning Study and Council resolution can be accessed here.

Key Features of the Planning Study

New public spaces		new 3,000m2 Grosvenor Plaza new 1,000m2 Rangers Road Plaza new laneways
New and upgraded community facilities		new 1,000m2 community centre upgraded existing community centre
Improved access and road safety		underground Grosvenor Lane car park through-site link upgrades footpath widening at Military Road bus stops Investigation into pedestrian crossing improvements new cycleway and bicycle facilities
Protected employment		increased minimum non-residential floor space (FSR) control to 1.2:1 or 1.5:1
Built form character and amenity		increased maximum height limit to 6 storeys for most of the mixed-use zone affordable housing built form design guidelines

Key Landowner Schemes in Neutral Bay

Since the preparation of the planning study, the key landowners have pursued the following development proposals:

• Equitibuild (06 April 2023): Planning Proposal for 12-storey mixed-use development
• Coles (01 September 2023): Development Application for 7-storey mixed-use development
• Arkadia (29 October 2024): Planning Proposal for 9-12 storey mixed use-towers
• Woolworths (6 November 2024): Development Application for 6-8 storey mixed-use development

These projects are at varying stages in the planning process. Council continues to negotiate/advocate for design and public benefit outcomes as outlined in the planning study and Council resolution.

More Information

If you have any questions, email yoursay@northsydney.nsw.gov.au