business - 2026-06-09

More than 500 Frenchs Forest apartments move closer as two tower projects are recommended for fast-track assessment

Source: manlyobserver.com.au

More than 500 apartments proposed for Frenchs Forest have moved a step closer to fast-tracked assessment, with two large housing projects recommended to be declared State Significant Developments. If the Planning Minister grants that status, the projects would be determined by NSW Planning rather than going through Northern Beaches Council, making them a significant test of how quickly the State wants to push new housing in one of the Northern Beaches' main growth areas.

More than 500 apartments proposed for Frenchs Forest have moved a step closer to fast-tracked assessment, with two large housing projects recommended to be declared State Significant Developments. If the Planning Minister grants that status, the projects would be determined by NSW Planning rather than going through Northern Beaches Council, making them a significant test of how quickly the State wants to push new housing in one of the Northern Beaches' main growth areas. The recommendations came from the Housing Development Authority, the body set up to help streamline major housing proposals. Developers can put projects to the authority, which then advises whether they should be treated as State Significant Developments. That matters because once a proposal is declared SSD, it bypasses the usual local council assessment process and is instead considered at State level. Three Frenchs Forest developments were considered for that pathway. The first, at 12-14 Gladys Avenue, sought approval for a 48-metre residential building containing 113 units, with 15 per cent of those set aside as affordable housing. That proposal was recommended not to receive SSD status. A smaller scheme for...