By ANNA USHER

Three months after Mosman Collective exclusively revealed a major $50 million site amalgamation on Moruben Road, developer HELM has now lodged a formal Development Application for a landmark eight-storey residential building – a proposal set to dramatically reshape one of Mosman’s most spectacular ridgelines.

The DA, lodged on 17 November, confirms plans for 27 high-end apartments – including six affordable housing units for essential workers – along with significant public domain upgrades, a new publicly accessible park, and a full redevelopment of the prominent 1,566sqm corner site.

In a statement provided to Mosman Collective, HELM said:

“The project comprises 27 apartments over 8 levels (including 6 affordable housing apartments) and significant improvements to the public domain, including the voluntary dedication of some of our property to Council to enable the creation of a new pocket park on Moruben Road.”

The development – designed by Brick Architects – includes:

• 7 apartments:
• 20 x three-bed
• 6 x two-bed
• 1 x one-bed
• Six affordable housing dwellings, managed by Bridge Housing for 15 years.
• Eight storeys, shifting bulk eastward to protect view corridors from 6 Mandolong Rd.
• Four levels of basement parking (45 spaces), accessed via Clifford Street.
• A pocket park, nine new street trees, and widened footpaths funded entirely by HELM.
• Stratum subdivision to minimise ongoing strata costs for affordable tenants.

HELM insists the Moruben Road redevelopment is a considered response to the State’s housing reforms.

“We deliberately ruled out conservation areas, as well as streets such as Muston Street, Redan St and Redan Lane, where we felt additional density would have too great an impact,” HELM’s Mark Monk said.

“Instead, we identified the western side of Moruben Road as a suitable location because it is close to shops, services, and public transport, and already contains a large number of apartment buildings.

“In this context, replacing unit blocks that are already close to five storeys (when pitched roofs are included) with new buildings just 1 – 3 storeys higher allows us to contribute to housing supply without eroding the village character.”

The existing buildings, four 1960s townhouses and a four-storey 1970s apartment block, will be demolished.

The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) uploaded to the Mosman Council website confirms the new building – if approved – will feature:

• Curved sandstone façades referencing heritage items at 2 and 6 Moruben Rd.
• Balconies on three sides, oriented to views of North Head, Middle Head and Balmoral.
• A large landscaped entry plaza on Mandolong Rd.
• Upper floors stepped back on the western side to reduce bulk nearest neighbours.
• A secondary, low-key pedestrian entry on Clifford Street.

Heritage documents uploaded to the DA Portal note that while there is “a change of scale”, the new building will sit against a backdrop of existing mid-rise apartment buildings to the west and north.

Six apartments over four levels (on a separate strata subdivision) will be leased to essential workers at regulated rents for 15 years, not exceeding 80% of the median rental price in Mosman.

Mr Monk said that based on the NSW Government Rent
and Sales Report (June 2025), a one-bedroom “affordable housing” apartment will be rented for $486.40 per week, the two-bedroom apartment will be rented for $680 per week and the three-bedroom apartment will be rented for $1,160 per week.

He also confirmed surrounding homes will receive a hand delivered letter in the coming days, outlining the development application.

“It has been our experience in the past that whilst a Development Application is in the public notification period, sometimes mistruths and ill-founded rumours can circulate through the
Community,” he said.

“With this in mind we would like to meet with residents to answer any questions with respect to our application.

“We encourage anyone who wants to know more about the project to contact our Associate Director – Development, Matt Campbell, on 0419 976 640.”

The Development Application is now live and taking submissions during the notification period.

See the entire Development Application for 1-3 Moruben Rd, Mosman HERE.