First look: Legacy Property proposes shop-top housing for key North Sydney site
A bold new infill development has been proposed for a key stretch of Pacific Highway in North Sydney, with Legacy Property lodging plans for a mixed-use project that would integrate affordable housing and retain a locally listed heritage building.
The proposal, prepared in collaboration with architects Nettletontribe, seeks to transform a strategic site near the Victoria Cross Metro Station with a part 10, part 13-level building.
A two-level commercial podium will activate the Pacific Highway frontage, while four basement levels will accommodate car parking and servicing.
The residential tower includes a mix of market and affordable apartments, with the latter fulfilling the requirements of the Housing SEPP’s infill affordable housing provisions. These units are to be delivered in collaboration with Cubic Real Estate, a registered community housing provider.
The site includes a locally listed heritage building at 265 Pacific Highway, which will be retained and adaptively reused. The design seeks to respect the heritage significance of the item while integrating it into the broader scheme.
The podium reflects the scale of the adjacent heritage building (The Cloisters Antique Store) and allows for “restoration and meaningful re-purposing” of the structure, Nettletontribe noted in its Design Report.
A defining element of the proposal is the stepped massing from north to south, responding to the site’s topography and the lower-scale residential character of Church Lane. Setbacks increase above the podium to reduce visual bulk and improve privacy and solar access to surrounding properties. Communal open spaces are provided at ground level and the rooftop, supporting amenity for future residents.
Architecturally, the design adopts principles of the NSW Better Placed policy, incorporating sustainable features such as full electrification, EV charging provision, and deep soil landscaping.
Nettletontribe’s report also details the landscape strategy, which incorporates native and culturally significant plants, with a focus on edible bush foods in recognition of the site’s location on Gamaraigal Country.
The proposal builds on an approved plan from 2023 that uplifted controls on height and FSR for the site, reflecting its proximity to major transport infrastructure and alignment with North Sydney’s strategic housing targets.
The new application has been submitted as a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) through the NSW Government.
Joel Robinson
Joel Robinson is the Editor in Chief at Apartments.com.au, where he leads the editorial team and oversees the country’s most comprehensive news coverage dedicated to the off the plan property market. With more than a decade of experience in residential real estate journalism, Joel brings deep insight into Australia’s evolving development landscape.
He holds a degree in Business Management with a major in Journalism from Leeds Beckett University in the UK, and has developed a particular expertise in off the plan apartment space. Joel’s editorial lens spans the full lifecycle of a project—from site acquisition and planning approvals through to new launches, construction completions, and final sell-out—delivering trusted, buyer-focused content that supports informed decision-making across the property journey
