Kensington and Kingsford Planning Strategy

Artist impression of Anzac Parade at Meeks St in Kingsford

Planning controls and infrastructure for the future of Kensington and Kingsford town centres

The Kensington and Kingsford town centres planning amendments were made on 14 August 2020. These amendments introduce new clauses (clauses 6.17 to 6.21) and new maps in the Randwick LEP 2012 relating to:

  • Greater building heights and densities tied to the delivery of community infrastructure and floor space
  • A new affordable housing requirement calculated on 3% (increasing to 5% after 14 August 2022) of the total floor area used for residential purposes
  • A minimum non-residential floor space component of at least 1% of gross floor area for key sites
  • A requirement for ground floor premises to active street frontages to be used for commercial purposes
  • Design excellence requirements and architectural competition process for key sites
  • The inclusion of new sites (currently zoned residential) to be rezoned B2 Local Centre.

The Department’s LEPs Online System contains all relevant documents relating to this application.

In line with Council’s K2K Strategy, an amendment to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Regulation has also been made which enables Council to increase the s.7.12 Contributions levy from 1% up to 2.5% of capital investment value for development greater than $250,000 within the town centres.

A copy of the Council endorsed K2K Planning Strategy (2019) can be found here.

At the Ordinary Council meeting on 27 October 2020, the Development Control Plan (DCP) for the Kensington and Kingsford town centres was adopted by Council bringing to a close a five-year planning review process to create a vision for the future of the town centres. A copy of the K2K DCP can be found here:

Related documents can be found here:

For more information about affordable housing contributions please see here

Background

The Strategy proposes a new vision for the two centres that is based on sustainable growth to create vibrant, prosperous and attractive places.

The Draft Planning Strategy was submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for Gateway Determination in December 2016. Council received approval to proceed with public exhibition (ie. Gateway Determination) in December 2017 subject to a number of significant changes.

On 5 March 2018, Council submitted its Gateway Review request to the Department of Planning & Environment.

On 30 August 2018, the Department referred Council's Gateway Review request to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC). The Commission has reviewed the Proposal and provided advice to the Department supporting Council's review request. Further information is available on the Independent Planning Commission website.

On 19 December 2018, the Department issued an altered Gateway Determination in response to the IPC’s recommendation. The altered Gateway Determination removes the condition requiring increased dwelling capacity in the town centres and relates to the provision of community infrastructure. Further information is available on the Department’s LEP tracking website.

Following the altered Gateway Determination, Council reconsidered the matter at a Council Meeting in May 2019 and endorsed the planning proposal for public exhibition.

In early August 2019, as required in the Gateway Determination, the revised Planning Proposal was endorsed by the Department of Planning for public exhibition. The Planning Proposal, draft Planning Strategy for Kensington and Kingsford town centres, draft Contributions Plans and affordable Housing Plan were exhibited from 20 August - 10 October 2019. Further information is available on Council's Your Say Randwick webpage.

On 10 December 2019, Council endorsed the Planning Proposal for the Kensington and Kingsford Town Centres and resolved to forward the proposal to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment requesting amendments be made to Randwick LEP. A link to the Council Business Paper is available here. Draft Height Transition Maps associated with the Draft Planning Proposal can be found here.

Timeline

  • 6 Dec 2016 - Council Planning Committee (deferred)
  • 13 Dec 2016 - Council Ordinary Meeting
  • 17 Dec 2016 - Extraordinary Council Meeting
  • Dec 2016 - Planning Strategy submitted to Department for approval for public exhibition
  • Feb 2017 - Greater Sydney Planning Award 'Great Plan - K2K Urban Design Competition'
  • Feb 2017 - Draft Planning Strategy documents made public on Department of Planning & Environment LEP Tracking website
  • July 2017 - National Landscape Architect's Award
  • Nov 2017 - Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) (NSW) Award for Planning Excellence - Best Planning Ideas - Small Project
  • 13 Dec 2017 - Council receives gateway approval for public exhibition subject to significant changes
  • 19 Dec 2017 - Council writes to Department notifying them of Council’s intent to seek a Gateway Review
  • 5 March 2018 - Submission to the Department seeking Gateway Review
  • 30 Aug 2018 - Gateway Review request referred to the Independent Planning Commission
  • 19 Sept 2018 - meeting between Council staff and Independent Planning Commission
  • 8 Oct 2018 - second meeting between Council staff and Independent Planning Commission
  • 29 Oct 2018 - Independent Planning Commission completes their review and provides advice to the Department on the Gateway Determination Review
  • 19 Dec 2018 – Department issues altered Gateway Determination
  • 21 Dec 2018 – Council writes to Department expressing concern with the amended Gateway Determination and requesting a meeting
  • Early 2019 - Council meeting to consider the Planning Strategy, following the Department's determination of the Gateway Review request
  • May 2019 - Council endorsed public exhibition of the Planning Proposal
  • 20 August - 1 October 2019 - Public exhibition of planning proposal, contributions plan and supporting documents (6 weeks)
  • 10 Dec 2019 - Report to Council on outcomes of public exhibition. Council endorsed the Planning Proposal and associated plans.
  • 14 August 2020 – Gazettal of K2K planning amendments
  • 5 August to 11 September 2020 – exhibition of draft DCP for the two centres
  • 20 November 2020 – K2K DCP published and takes effect

Archived documents prior to finalised Gateway Determination

More information

Randwick City Council
Strategic Planning Unit
council@randwick.nsw.gov.au
02 9093 6849

Last Updated: 30 November 2022
Back to top