Stamford Property Services Pty Ltd v City of Sydney & Anor [2015] NSWLEC 1189

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Stamford Property Services Pty Ltd v City of Sydney & Anor [2015] NSWLEC 1189 Hearing dates: 29, 30 January, 2, 3, 4 February 2015 Date of orders: 28 May 2015 Decision date: 28 May 2015 Jurisdiction: Class 1 Before: Pearson C and Smithson AC Decision: 1. The appeal is dismissed. 2. Development Application D/2013/2011 for the retention and adaptive re-use of the former Department of Health building; partial retention and re-use of part of the Sir Stamford Hotel building; construction of a 19 storey tower building accommodating residential apartments, retail/commercial floor space and basement car parking spaces; and ancillary landscaping and public domain improvement works, at 93-97 Macquarie Street, Sydney, is refused. 3. The exhibits are returned except for Exhibits A, C1, C13 and M1. Catchwords: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION – Retention and adaptive re-use of heritage building – Construction of residential and commercial tower – Whether exhibiting design excellence – Competitive design process - Whether site specific development control plan required – Building setbacks – Height control - Special Conservation Area – Impacts on heritage items – View impacts – Internal amenity – Privacy Legislation Cited: Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 Land and Environment Court Act 1979 Heritage Act 1977 Interpretation Act 1987 City of Sydney Act 1988 State Environmental Planning Policy No 65 – Design Quality of Residential Flat Development Central Sydney Local Environmental Plan 1996 Cases Cited: Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27 Al-Kateb v Godwin (2004) 219 CLR 562 APT Peddle Thorp & Walker Pty Ltd v Sydney City Council [1997] NSWLEC 186 Bettar v Council of the City of Sydney [2014] NSWLEC 1070 Botany Bay City Council v Premier Customs Services Pty Ltd (2009) 172 LGERA 338 CIC Insurance v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Collector of Customs v Agfa-Gevaert Ltd (1996) 186 CLR 389 Conservation of North Ocean Shores Inc v Byron Shire Council [2009] NSWLEC 69 Cranbrook School v Woollahra Municipal Council (2006) 66 NSWLR 379 Csillag v Woollahra Municipal Council [2011] NSWLEC 17 Gill v Donald Humberstone & Co Ltd [1963] 3 All ER 180 GTAA Pty Ltd v South Sydney City Council (2001) 117 LGERA 51 Hallgath v Australian Community Pharmacy Authority (No 2) (2011) 197 FCR 15 Marina Bay Developments Pty Ltd v Pittwater Council [2007] NSWLEC 41 Momcilovic v The Queen (2011) 85 ALJR 957 One.Tel Ltd v Australian Communications Authority (2001) 180 ALR 521 Owners of Strata Plan No 3397 v Tate (2007) 70 NSWLR 344 Project Blue Sky v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355 Stamford Property Services Pty Ltd v Council of the City of Sydney [2014] NSWLEC 1206 Stockland Development Pty Ltd v Manly Council [2004] NSWLEC 472 Tenacity Consulting v Warringah Council [2004] NSWLEC 140 Tovir Investments Pty Ltd v Waverley Council [2014] NSWCA 379 Tran v Commonwealth (2010) 271 ALR 1 Zhang v Canterbury City Council (2001) 115 LGERA 373 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Stamford Property Services Pty Ltd (Applicant) Council of the City of Sydney (First Respondent) Mulpha Australia Pty Ltd (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Galasso SC (Applicant) Mr P Clay SC (First Respondent) Mr N Hutley SC with Mr C Ireland (Second Respondent)