Exciting changes are on the horizon for Frenchs Forest as plans for its new town centre are revealed. The transformation promises to be significant and will undoubtedly shape the future of the area.
The Northern Beaches Council has recently received several detailed proposals for significant residential projects, signalling the beginning of a new era of redevelopment in this rapidly growing region.
Central to these developments is a $67 million proposal to construct 127 apartments across three six-storey buildings, strategically located opposite the Northern Beaches Hospital. This development will consolidate four existing single-housing lots at the corner of Frenchs Forest Road West and Gladys Avenue.
Further Developments Nearby
Just 150 metres away, a second project proposes an $18 million investment in a six-storey building with 40 units at the intersection of Wakehurst Parkway and Frenchs Forest Road. Additionally, a $12 million development application is before the council for a four-storey block comprising 28 units on Gladys Avenue.
The council has already approved a 55-room affordable housing development on Gladys Avenue, designed to provide accommodation for hospital staff. This area will also see the construction of a senior living complex, adding to the mix of residential options.
Long-Term Vision
These proposals come two and a half years after the NSW Government granted planning permission for the creation of the new Frenchs Forest Town Centre, which will be situated around the current site of The Forest High School. The master plan for this new centre includes apartment blocks reaching up to 12 storeys, a new commercial strip west of the hospital, and extensive residential developments.
The Frenchs Forest Place Strategy 2041, approved just before Christmas 2021, envisions 5,360 new homes within its scope. The first phase, set to roll out over the next 20 years, includes the development of 1,000 new medium and high-density dwellings in the town centre and an additional 1,000 homes in surrounding residential areas.
Community and Infrastructure Upgrades
Spanning approximately 12 hectares, the town centre redevelopment will incorporate The Forest High School, Northern Beaches Hospital, and land both north of Frenchs Forest Road West and south of Warringah Road. The existing high school will be demolished, with a new facility currently under construction in nearby Allambie Heights. The plan also features the creation of 1.5 hectares of new public open space, including a 1,665 square metre plaza, alongside upgrades to Brick Pit, Akora, and Rabbett reserves.
Commitment to Community and Affordable Housing
A notable feature of the 127-unit development includes the allocation of nine apartments for community public housing and 21 units for affordable housing targeting key workers. According to the Statement of Environmental Effects submitted with the development application, the project boasts three buildings of exceptional design quality, carefully planned to complement the site’s unique shape and topography.
Published Date 04-July-2024
