Four traditional homes in Sherwood could soon be demolished to make way for a five-storey unit complex that heavily exceeds the local neighbourhood limits for site coverage.
The development application, which was recently submitted to the local council, targets a block of land at 10 Mayhew Street. Designed by Mayhill Planning and Architecture, the medium-density project plans to bring two dozen new units to the suburb. However, the building’s footprint takes up 68 per cent of the site, well above the 45 per cent maximum outlined in the area’s neighbourhood plan. This significant difference raises questions about how much large-scale construction the quiet suburban street can handle.
Unlike many modern developments that feature small one-bedroom spaces, this project focuses heavily on larger households. All 24 units in the proposed building contain three bedrooms, with six apartments spread across each floor. The designers have also included large balconies for every unit, ranging from 21 to 27 square metres, giving future residents plenty of private outdoor space.
To manage the extra cars coming to the street, the developers have planned for 53 parking spaces. Because there is no underground basement, they will use a mix of 24 standard car spaces and 24 mechanical car stackers. The remaining five spots are strictly for visitors, which includes one space designed for people with disabilities. Five bike parking racks will also be available for guests.
At the top of the building, residents will share a 180-square-metre rooftop garden. This communal area is designed for socialising, featuring a barbeque zone alongside dining and seating areas.
Representatives from Mayhill Planning and Architecture stated that they carefully chose light building colours and added sun screening to the balconies to make the five-storey structure look less overwhelming from the street. They also noted that skipping a basement allowed them to plant larger, deeper-rooted trees right at the front of the property. To further improve the view from the footpath, the designers added extra plants to the lower balconies and pushed bulky fire safety equipment back toward the building line so it would not dominate the street view.
Published Date 08-June-2026
