Woolworths lodged a planning proposal with North Sydney Council seeking to rezone 1 – 7 Rangers Road in Neutral Bay to allow an increase in height from 16m to 40m to accommodate high-rise residential apartments above a supermarket and shops. 

Plans also show there will be a pedestrian arcade, public plaza with outdoor dining, children’s play areas and basement parking with 350 spaces. 

After North Sydney councillors unanimously voted against supporting the proposal due to the building’s height, bulk, overshadowing and traffic impacts on surrounding streets, Woolworths subsequently lodged a rezoning review with the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. 

Rezoning reviews allow proponents to make a request that an independent planning panel evaluate whether a proposal should progress to Gateway determination. 

Woolworths have a number of similar mixed-use development proposals in Sydney and Melbourne. Two in Melbourne in Glen Iris and Elsternwick have been rejected.