A longstanding Manly backpacker hostel and former ambulance station is set to make way for a new eight-story apartment development, marking a significant change for one of the suburb’s well-known town centre sites.
The approved redevelopment concerns Stoke Beach House on Raglan Street, a property that has served different roles in the community over several decades. Long before it became a popular accommodation option for travellers, part of the site operated as the Manly Ambulance Station, giving the building a place in the area’s local history.
A New Chapter for a Familiar Site
Planning approval has been granted for an eight-story shop-top housing development that will replace the existing hostel building. The project will include residential apartments and above-ground commercial space, along with parking and supporting facilities.
The proposal follows a lengthy planning process that included earlier applications for a smaller development on the site. An earlier scheme for a three-storey building was approved after court proceedings, but the latest proposal takes advantage of planning reforms that allow greater building heights in designated town centres when affordable housing is included.
For residents walking through Manly’s busy commercial precinct, the change will be highly visible. The current building has been part of the streetscape for years, attracting backpackers from Australia and overseas while standing as a reminder of the site’s earlier public service role.
Affordable Housing Incentives Shape the Proposal
A key factor behind the larger project is its affordable housing component.
Planning documents state the development will contain 15 apartments, including three affordable housing units. The inclusion of affordable housing enabled the proposal to access additional height and floor-space allowances available under NSW’s low- and mid-rise housing reforms.
According to the plans, the affordable homes will include one-, two- and three-bedroom options. The remaining apartments will be spread across the upper levels and include a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences.
Supporters of the project argue that developments close to shops, services and public transport can help meet demand for housing in established suburbs. The proposal is one of several recent projects in Manly making use of updated planning controls aimed at increasing housing supply within town centres.
Community Concerns Remain Part of the Conversation
The site’s redevelopment has not been without debate.
During earlier assessment stages, planning authorities raised concerns about issues including building scale, density and the loss of a structure recognised for its local heritage significance. Nearby residents also expressed concerns relating to privacy and noise, while questions were raised about potential traffic impacts in the surrounding area.
Those matters formed part of discussions between the applicant and Northern Beaches Council during the approval process.
Court documents indicate changes were made to the design before final approval was granted. Amendments included alterations to elements of the building’s façade and adjustments to balcony sizes.
Court Process Leads to Approval
The final approval followed proceedings in the NSW Land and Environment Court after an appeal concerning the development application.
The applicant and council ultimately reached agreement on amended plans, leading to development consent being granted.
While representatives for the developer argued the approval process had taken longer than expected and affected housing delivery, council maintained that planning concerns needed to be addressed through revisions to the proposal. Council also noted that amendments accepted during the court process responded to issues previously identified during assessment.
The court ordered the applicant to pay council costs associated with the proceedings.
Looking Ahead
What replaces Stoke Beach House will be very different from what stands there today.
The new development is planned to include ground-floor retail space, electric-vehicle parking, bicycle storage and rooftop facilities for one of the apartments. Once completed, it will add new housing to Manly’s town centre while ending the chapter of a building that has served both emergency services and generations of travellers.
For many in the community, the redevelopment represents a broader question facing coastal centres across Sydney: how to accommodate future housing needs while managing changes to neighbourhood character and preserving links to local history.
Published Date 10-November-2026
