Developer Lindsay Bennelong plans to demolish a cluster of older properties near the southern end of Manly Beach to build a massive $71.6 million apartment complex that utilises state planning incentives to exceed standard local height limits by including dedicated homes for frontline workers.
Transforming the Neighbourhood Footprint
The proposed development, located at 17 to 25 Ashburner Street, sits snugly between the southern end of Manly Beach and East Manly Cove. The project involves knocking down four existing houses and 10 older apartments to make way for a much larger, high-density residential space.
This complete redesign will significantly increase the housing capacity of the specific site, jumping from just 25 existing bedrooms up to 94 bedrooms. These will be spread across 37 new apartments, offering a mixture of one, two, and three-bedroom layouts to suit different types of households.
Utilising Incentives for Affordable Housing
Because the location is exactly within a 400-metre walking distance of the Manly town centre, it falls under specific state planning rules for low to mid-rise housing zones. The standard height limit for this area is usually restricted to 22 metres. However, the developer has qualified for a 30% height increase. They secured this bonus by reserving nine of the new apartments strictly as affordable housing.
This extra allowance pushes the maximum allowable building height to 28.6 metres, a limit the eight-storey design uses completely to maximise the number of homes on the block.
Dedicated Homes for Frontline Workers
The nine affordable units are specifically aimed at supporting frontline workers, making it easier for essential staff to live close to their workplaces. The developer is currently collaborating with a local community housing provider to ensure the rental prices for these specific apartments are heavily reduced. Usually, affordable housing requires rents to be capped at 20% below the regular market rate, but the team behind this project aims to push the cost well below that standard benchmark.
Coastal Design and Modern Additions
Platform Architects designed the new complex to blend nicely with the local environment, featuring a wave-like indentation along the building’s facade to mirror the nearby ocean. People living in the building will share a dedicated wellness facility equipped with a sauna and a gym, alongside generous private outdoor spaces.
The property will also feature a full-time building manager’s office and two levels of underground basement parking with room for 76 cars, which includes nine parking spaces set aside specifically for visitors. The formal development application is currently waiting for its public exhibition period to be determined, with the entire project estimated to finish in early 2031.
Published Date 12-June-2026
