0°C | Thursday October 2, 2025 
21 April 2023
Coles has publicly revealed some information about its plans for the Woolworths site in Grosvenor Lane, Neutral Bay which it intends to re-develop into a Coles-branded supermarket.
The revelation comes in the form of a report from Council to the next meeting scheduled for 26 April.
According to the report, Coles, which owns the land currently occupied by Woolworths has advised that it is in the process of preparing a development application to be lodged under the current planning controls for a mixed-use residential/commercial development.
“The development will seek to replace the existing supermarket and incorporate shop-top housing,” the report says. The DA will also seek to create an “at-grade” plaza by replacing the current Grosvenor Lane carpark with an underground format as part of its redevelopment proposal.
The council report doesn’t say this but the Sun understands the plan calls for a residential development of five floors at the existing Woolworths site.
This is below the six storey threshold which has triggered acrimony from the bloc of six which controls the floor of council.
For example, this bloc opposes plans by Woolworths to build a 8-12 storey residential tower on its site in Rangers Rd. It also opposed a height extension for a Waters Rd residential development that would have provided $2 million in funds for a Grosvenor Lane plaza.
The council will consider a motion that grants Coles owner’s consent to lodge a development application for the land described in its letter dated 20 March 2023 being parts of the Grosvenor Lane carpark, Cooper Lane, Waters Lane and Grosvenor Street. “Council notes that a consultative and collaborative design process will be required to be entered into for any future plaza at the Grosvenor Lane carpark site and Council notes that a formal negotiation process will need to be entered into to develop formal agreements for the delivery of a new plaza and associated arrangements for the delivery, access, ownership and long-term arrangements for public parking,” the motion states.
North Sydney Council has also foreshadowed the establishment of a Community Consultation Group to work with council on the redevelopment of Neutral Bay Town Centre last month.