A 166-year-old house in Springwood in the NSW Blue Mountains will be demolished to make way for new units for seniors living, under plans before council.
Greenhays, on the highway at Churchill Street, was built in 1853. It was once on council's local heritage register but was removed in 2005 after experts found that additions and alterations had compromised its integrity.
The owners now plan to demolish the house - a private certifier approved the building's demolition earlier this year - and build 15 units to cater for over-55s.
The $3.7 million development has been amended since a similar proposal was lodged last year. It was withdrawn after council raised concerns about access to sunshine, private open space, design and waste management.
In response, the owners have reduced the original 16-unit plan by one and made other modifications in an effort to get the DA approved.
There will be 11 two-bedroom units and four with three bedrooms each, all with their own parking. Only four units are two storeys high and these will front the highway.
There will be no entrance from the highway - the only access will be via Churchill Street.
While much of the vegetation will be removed, a statement of environment effects with the plans noted that what is there is largely either exotic or of poor quality.
"Retention of anything other than some perimeter vegetation is unreasonable and sterilises the development of the site. The proposal includes a more superior landscape scheme for the site that facilitates the development and maximises the quality of landscaping."
This includes planting liquidambars, flowering cherries, elms and ornamental pear trees, as well as shrubs such as camellias, lilly pillies and bottlebrush.
It also notes that nearly half of the 4,817 square metre site will be landscaped open space.
The DA is on exhibition for public comment until November 20 at https://www2.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/DATracking/Pages/XC.Track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=778817.
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