Hornsby Council DA/242/2022, subdivision at 155Norfolk Rd.

Development Assessment Officer - Lawrence Huang.

A beautiful, historic old residence at 155 Norfolk Rd, North Epping, is in grave and imminent danger of demolition.

At present, a DA is under consideration by Hornsby Council to subdivide the residential site into two blocks.

If the subdivision is approved, as seems likely, the developer will seek approval to demolish the old home. The North Epping and Epping Community may or may not then have an opportunity to voice its opposition to demolition, depending on the type of application the developer pursues. The approach has not yet been for a Complying Development, but if the proposed construction proceeds that way, the community will have no formal means of making its voice heard. It will only be possible to make submissions if the rebuild proceeds as a normal Development Application.

So the time is now to voice any concern you may have. The view of Epping Civic Trust is that demolition of this historic home would be a severe loss of important heritage for Epping.

The home is one of the first homes built in North Epping when it was still predominantly market gardens and orchards. It was the “homestead” of a market gardener. Built, we understand, in 1912, it was the home of Nicholas and Margaret Piedmont for many years. It was surrounded by beautiful gardens.

The home needs refurbishment now, but this property really deserves to be brought to life to grace North Epping’s streetscape for another hundred years.

If you object to this demolition you can best do so by stating your views in a submission in response to this subdivision DA - DA/242/2022. The following link takes you to the site where you can see the paperwork. See box to the right on lodging a submission - closing date is 5 April 2022.

https://hscenquiry.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/Pages/XC.Track/SearchApplication.aspx?id=1080751