Housing Delivery Authority backs Meriton's 505 Little Bay homes

The Urban Developer says Mr Triguboff earlier argued for 5,000 homes on the site, then proposed 2,600 apartments across two 27-storey towers in 2025. It reports that the Housing Delivery Authority rejected that larger scheme last year, citing concerns including its planning merits and affordable housing commitments.

The Sydney Morning Herald, in a report of 1 November 2026 that we read through a syndicated copy, says the authority gave the new proposal initial support. It reports that the NSW Planning Minister said the support does not guarantee approval, and that the proposal remains subject to merit-based assessment and community consultation.

The Sydney Morning Herald also quotes Randwick mayor Clare Willington as warning that the pathway would take planning decisions out of the council’s hands.

The numbers

The Urban Developer reports the revised plan is for 505 homes in low-rise buildings of two to five storeys.

The first stage would deliver at least 100 homes, the outlet says, and 3% of homes would be affordable. The article does not say whether the 3% applies to the first stage or to the full 505 homes. The Sydney Morning Herald copy says three of the 100 stage-one homes would be affordable, and does not give a share for the whole scheme.

The Urban Developer says the site covers 11 hectares. It reports Meriton paid A$245 million for the land, and gives the purchase as March 2018. The Sydney Morning Herald copy says 2017, so we have not settled the year and rely on the amount alone.

On timing, The Urban Developer reports that Mr Triguboff said the state significant pathway would let Meriton draw up current plans instead of leaning on approvals that are close to two decades old. The outlet also reports he is working with the state to reduce construction costs, and argues an apartment in NSW costs about A$250,000 more to build than in Queensland. Both are his claims as reported, and we have not tested them.

What’s next

Neither report states whether the state significant declaration has been formally made, and neither gives the date of the Housing Delivery Authority’s recommendation. We have not found a planning portal record for the site, so the status of any application is unconfirmed.

If the site is declared state significant, the Sydney Morning Herald reports the Minister said the proposal remains subject to merit-based assessment and community consultation. The Urban Developer does not set out the timetable for lodging updated plans or for the first stage.

Also in this edition: Ford Land’s One Rosebery. The Australian Developer will follow the site as the declaration, any application and the determination date are published.