More affordable housing at The Entrance

Concept drawing of the affordable housing at The Entrance

A $2M affordable housing project of eight townhouses will be built at 15 Warrigal St, The Entrance, pending approval by Central Coast Council.

Council has to consider whether to allow private open space for each unit below the minimum planning standard and another non-compliance by not providing visitor parking.

The proposal doesn’t incorporate private open space for each unit with a minimum area of 45sqm and a minimum dimension of 4.5m, set by the Development Control Plan (DCP).

Each unit has private open space at or near ground level ranging from 15.9sqm to 73.5sq with a minimum dimension of 3m.

The development application says it is not appropriate to use a one size fits all approach to determining the needs for private open space.

“The size of the private open space should be proportional to the size of the dwelling … the DCP  does not distinguish that a 3-4 bedroom townhouse of some 135sqm floor area may have different private open space requirements to a single occupant, one-bedroom townhouse of 65sqm floor areas as proposed in this application,” it says in the application.

“The proposed development is considered to provide appropriately sized private open space that will adequately provide for the residential amenity and liveability for the townhouse residents.”

As to the lack of visitor parking, the application refers to the Housing State Environment Planning Policy (SEPP) which does not require visitor parking.

“This is inconsistent with the requirements for visitor parking in the DCP and the provisions of the SEPP prevail over the DCP where there is an inconsistency,” the application says.

The townhouse development will comprise eight one-bedroom units plus study, with two of the units allocated as affordable housing as required under the Housing SEPP.

There will be eight basement car parking spaces with access off Warrigal St.

Key2Realty will manage the day-to-day operations of the complex under Plan of Management guidelines which will be reviewed regularly by the managers and Pacific Link Housing in conjunction with the owners.

The owners, Oakland60 Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ashton Rowe Pty Ltd, is a privately owned company with extensive experience in affordable housing developments.

The development application (2251/2022) is available for public comment on Council’s website until Friday, September 30.

Sue Murray