Community engagement

Have Your Say

Proposed Seniors Housing Development

378–398 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest · SSD-132390006 · North Sydney Local Government Area

Current stage: preparing the Environmental Impact Statement SEARs issued 23 July 2026 Applicant: Freecity Crows Nest Development Pty Ltd

Freecity Crows Nest Development Pty Ltd is preparing a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for a seniors housing development at 378–398 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest.

Keylan Consulting has been engaged to prepare the Community Engagement Report and Social Impact Assessment that will accompany the application.

This page sets out the proposal in its current form and explains how the assessment process works. The formal public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has not yet begun — while it is being prepared, the project team welcomes early feedback from the community.

The proposal

What is being proposed

The proposed application retains the design philosophy supported under the existing 2025 consent (SSD-79240223). It involves the demolition of the existing two and three storey commercial and retail buildings at 378–390 Pacific Highway. The existing five-storey building at 398 Pacific Highway would be retained.

Broadly, the proposed development comprises construction of a new 42-storey mixed-use development, which includes seniors living residential uses and non-residential uses. The development will include:

An eight-level basement to accommodate approximately 170 car spaces.
A four-storey podium comprising ground floor non-residential space fronting Pacific Highway, a porte-cochere fronting Hume Street, vehicular access to the basement and servicing, two levels of Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) on Levels 1 and 2, and non-residential floor space on Level 3.
Level 4 will include non-residential uses, including wellness uses and communal open space for residents of the building.
Level 5 will include non-residential uses.
Levels 6–15 and Levels 17–41 will be dedicated to Independent Living Units (ILUs).
Level 16 is proposed to be non-residential, such as a hospitality use.
From Level 10 upwards, the tower cantilevers 3 metres over the existing retained development at 398 Pacific Highway (maintaining Apartment Design Guide separation to the north).
Roof top plant.

The proposed yield includes approximately 175 ILU units and 24 residential aged care (RAC) units.

42storeys (indicative)

138.8 mmaximum building height

~175independent living units

~24residential aged care (RAC) units

8 levelsbasement, ~170 car spaces

1,980 m²combined site area

Site and locality

About the site

The site is made up of six lots with a combined area of approximately 1,980 m², with a frontage of approximately 57 metres to Pacific Highway and a depth of approximately 32 metres. It adjoins Hume Street to the rear.

The site lies within the Crows Nest Accelerated Transport Oriented Development (TOD) Precinct and is zoned MU1 Mixed Use under the North Sydney Local Environmental Plan 2013.

Aerial cadastral map showing the subject site outlined in red, fronting Pacific Highway and Hume Street, Crows Nest.

Subject site (outlined red). Source: Urbis.

The applicant

About Freecity

Freecity Group is a privately-owned Australian property development group based in Sydney specialising in creating dynamic urban renewal projects and crafting community-focused environments that enhance the quality of life, work, and recreation. Freecity believes in establishing a connection between people and their surroundings and redefining city living through a deep understanding of local landscapes.

Assessment process

What happens, and when

State Significant Development is assessed by the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) rather than North Sydney Council. The process runs in stages:

01 Complete

Scoping & SEARs

DPHI scoping meetings were held in June and July 2026. Industry-specific SEARs were issued on 23 July 2026, setting out what the EIS must address.

02 Current stage

Preparing the EIS

Technical studies are underway, including the Community Engagement Report and Social Impact Assessment. This page forms part of that engagement.

03 Not yet started

Lodgement & exhibition

Once lodged, the EIS is publicly exhibited by DPHI. Formal submissions can then be made through the NSW Planning Portal.

04 Not yet started

Assessment & determination

DPHI assesses the application and all submissions before the Minister or delegate determines the application.

About this engagement

Keylan Consulting has been engaged to prepare the Community Engagement Report and Social Impact Assessment (SIA) that will support the EIS, having regard to DPHI's Undertaking Engagement Guidelines for State Significant Projects and the Social Impact Assessment Guideline for State Significant Projects.

Feedback received through this engagement will be documented and considered in preparing those reports. It is separate from, and additional to, the formal public exhibition period that will follow once the EIS is lodged with DPHI.

Have your say

Share your feedback

The project team welcomes feedback on the proposal while the EIS is being prepared. Feedback can relate to any aspect of the proposal, including its scale, traffic and access, amenity, or the seniors housing and aged care components.

⚑ Online community webinar

The project team will host an online webinar to present the proposal and answer questions ahead of formal exhibition. Date and time: Monday 28 September 2026, 5:00–6:00pm. Registration is essential.

⚑ Social Impact Assessment survey

As part of the Social Impact Assessment, the community is invited to complete a short survey on how the proposal may affect the local area.

Complete the Social Impact Assessment survey

Something else to share? Submit your feedback

Feedback is collected through a short online form covering your contact details, postcode and comments on the proposal.

Share your feedback

Opens the feedback form in a new tab.

Once the EIS is placed on public exhibition, formal submissions can be lodged with DPHI through the NSW Planning Portal (linked below).

FAQs

Common questions

What is being proposed?

Demolition of the existing buildings at 378–390 Pacific Highway and construction of a new 42-storey seniors housing development, comprising approximately 175 independent living units and 24 residential aged care (RAC) units above a podium with ground floor non-residential space. An eight-level basement would provide approximately 170 car spaces, accessed from Hume Street. The existing five-storey building at 398 Pacific Highway would be retained.

Why has this site been chosen for seniors housing?

The site adjoins Crows Nest Metro Station and sits within the Crows Nest Accelerated Transport Oriented Development Precinct, close to Royal North Shore Hospital and the Mater Hospital. The applicant considers this combination of transport and health-related services well suited to seniors housing.

What will happen to the existing building at 398 Pacific Highway?

It would be retained. The new tower is proposed to cantilever above it from around Level 10, using airspace rights established under the existing 2025 consent (SSD-79240223). The SEARs require the applicant to demonstrate this would not unreasonably affect the use, condition, safety or amenity of that building, and to detail consultation with its owner.

What is a State Significant Development (SSD)?

SSD is a category of development assessed by DPHI rather than the local council, generally because of its cost, scale or significance. This proposal qualifies as SSD because the estimated development cost of its seniors housing component exceeds $60 million, consistent with the threshold in Schedule 2 of State Environmental Planning Policy (Planning Systems) 2021.

How will impacts on neighbouring properties be considered?

The EIS must assess amenity impacts on the surrounding locality, including solar access, visual privacy, view sharing and wind, and demonstrate that a high level of environmental amenity is maintained for surrounding residential uses.

Will feedback change the design?

Feedback received during this engagement will be documented in the Community Engagement Report and considered by the project team. It informs, but does not determine, the final design or the assessment outcome, which rests with DPHI.

How can I provide feedback?

Use the form in the Have your say section of this page. Once the EIS is on public exhibition, formal submissions can also be lodged with DPHI through the NSW Planning Portal.

When can I make a formal submission?

Formal submissions can be lodged once the EIS is placed on public exhibition by DPHI, generally through the NSW Planning Portal. Exhibition dates have not yet been set — this page will be updated once they are confirmed.

Documents & links

Where to find more

NSW Planning Portal — project page

Official project record, including the request for SEARs and issued SEARs as attachments. Exhibition notices will be published here.

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