1 April 2026
A contentious development application for a 30-apartment complex in Kirribilli has been withdrawn, halting a proposal that drew opposition from local residents and heritage groups.
The application, lodged on August 27, 2025, by C&B Capital, sought to demolish two existing apartment blocks at 14-16 McDougall Street. The replacement proposal featured a nine-storey residential flat building, including affordable housing, with 30 units constructed above a basement designed to house 51 vehicles.
The proposal faced backlash, particularly regarding its impact on the area’s historic character. The North Shore Historical Society strongly opposed the demolition, stating it would have a “substantial negative impact on the significance of this important complex” and detract from the “overall built environment of the Kirribilli area”. The Society noted that the existing complex along McDougall Street was built between 1936 and 1940 and is a “surviving example of a garden community of art deco”.
Local residents also voiced criticism. A submission from a McDougall Street resident argued the development was contrary to safety and accessibility principles, predicting it would “result in unacceptable traffic and parking impacts on a narrow residential street” and “generate excessive noise”. Further concerns were raised over the project’s scale, with the resident stating the “proposed height and bulk are inconsistent with the established scale of development, resulting in loss of solar access, outlook, and views”.
Prior to the withdrawal, the North Sydney Planning Panel had recommended the application’s rejection. The panel cited multiple reasons, including that the proposed development “does not achieve the objectives of the height of buildings development standard”, was “Not considered to be in the public interest or suitable for the subject site”, and did not comply with the provisions of the State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021.