22 May 2025
North Sydney Council will vote on Monday to advance a planning proposal for 52 McLaren Street that would enable a mixed-use development of up to 24 storeys, despite receiving 69 public objections and just one expression of support during the statutory exhibition period. The site is adjacent to the Metro and the Aura apartment block.
The proposal, known as Planning Proposal 6/21, would amend the North Sydney Local Environmental Plan to increase the site’s maximum height limit from RL 110m to RL 156m in the southern portion and RL 107m in the north, with a floor space ratio of 5.3:1 and a new minimum non-residential floor space ratio of 1:1. It also includes an associated voluntary planning agreement and amendments to the North Sydney Development Control Plan.
According to the council report, the proposal is consistent with the Civic Precinct Planning Study completed in 2020, which anticipated a 24-storey tower on the southern part of the site. The accompanying VPA includes $12.5m in public benefits such as a future childcare facility, a through-site pedestrian link between McLaren and Elliot Streets, and up to 5% of the residential floor space allocated to affordable housing for 10 years.
Despite the extent of opposition, planning officers have recommended that council adopt the proposal without change. The report finds that overshadowing, view loss and traffic concerns raised by residents of neighbouring towers—including 168 Walker Street and 237 Miller Street—are acceptable in a dense urban environment and consistent with the site’s strategic location near the Victoria Cross Metro Station.
Updated traffic modelling provided during the exhibition period concluded that although the McLaren/Miller Street intersection would operate near capacity by 2035, the proposal would only account for around 20% of that future growth. Transport for NSW did not object to the development.
Council has already requested a revised Gateway deadline of 30 September 2025 from the NSW Department of Planning to allow sufficient time for finalisation. The planning proposal, DCP amendment and VPA are recommended to proceed under council’s delegation, with the VPA to be executed before the LEP is gazetted.