Knockdown Rebuild St Ives Chase — From $450K All-In
Fixed-price knockdown rebuild in St Ives Chase 2075. Demolition, new home, all Ku-ring-gai Council approvals under one contract. No surprises, no variation trail.
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MBA NSW0476 300 300St Ives Chase KDR — Single Contract, New Home
St Ives Chase KDR is bushfire-driven — BAL 19 to FZ ratings on most lots dictate construction detailing for the new house, while the existing housing stock (1970s–1990s) needs replacement-level investment to bring up to 2026 NCC standards. Hornsby Shire borders the north. Demolition zones limited by tree preservation. Vehicle access widths and water tank requirements add cost. Realistic KDR turnkey 15–20% above Pymble equivalent.
Most St Ives Chase blocks run 1,200–3,000m² on Class M ground. Knockdown rebuild on 1970s–1990s stock here usually pencils out better than deep renovation once you tally up structural, electrical, plumbing, insulation, and waterproofing upgrades against full replacement value. Median price band: $2.4M–$3.4M. Nearest rail is Mount Colah (4 km).
Buildana manages the complete knockdown rebuild process in St Ives Chase — from site assessment and architectural design through to DA or CDC approval, demolition management, and fixed-price construction to handover. One builder, one contract, one new home.
Read our KDR Cost Guide 2026 or use the Renovation vs KDR Calculator to compare options.
- New home in St Ives Chase from $450K
- Ku-ring-gai Council DA and CDC approvals managed
- Demolition and asbestos removal included
- Class M soil — engineered slab design included
- Typical blocks 1,200–3,000m² in St Ives Chase
- Single and two-storey designs available
- 6-year structural warranty
- Free site assessment — near Mount Colah (4 km) station
Reviewed by Oliver Alameri
Licensed Builder (NSW 487805C) · Master of Property Development · PhD Student · Building across Western Sydney since 2010
Why Knockdown Rebuild in St Ives Chase?
St Ives Chase is rural-residential semi-bushland on the edge of Garigal National Park. Lots run 1,200–3,000m², many backing directly onto bushland reserves. Bushfire planning controls (BAL ratings 19–FZ) apply across most of the suburb and add 10–15% to construction. The northern boundary runs into Hornsby Shire. No train, bus only — you're buying the land and the trees, not the commute.
St Ives Chase's established streetscape and median house prices of $2.4M–$3.4M reflect a premium location within Ku-ring-gai. Building costs sit above the metro average, offset by stronger capital growth and rental returns. Transport access via Mount Colah (4 km) connects St Ives Chase to the wider Sydney network. 1970s–1990s-era housing stock across St Ives Chase is prime for knockdown rebuild — replacing dated layouts and materials with modern, NCC-compliant homes that maximise block potential. Soil conditions in St Ives Chase (Class M, moderately reactive) are factored into every Buildana foundation design.
Knockdown rebuild in Ku-ring-gai is its own discipline — every job starts with a heritage check, a tree report, and a streetscape character assessment before a concept goes anywhere near a block. Council's Heritage Conservation Areas cover significant portions of Gordon, Killara, Pymble, Wahroonga, Warrawee, Roseville and Turramurra; demolish without consent and you lose the lot. Blocks generally run 800–1,400m² with Class M soil on the sandstone ridge and reactive H pockets in the Lane Cove valley suburbs (East Killara, South Turramurra, West Pymble, East Lindfield). Demolition costs run $35K–$60K because most of the housing stock is asbestos-era brick or fibro and the Tree Preservation Order limits site clearing. CDC is rarely the right pathway in Ku-ring-gai — full DA is the realistic plan, with 12–18 weeks typical assessment. Realistic KDR budget for a 350m² premium two-storey rebuild on a Pymble or Wahroonga block: $1.6M–$2.6M turnkey, depending on finish level.
Planning Controls — Ku-ring-gai Council
Ku-ring-gai LEP 2015 & Ku-ring-gai DCP. R2 Low Density: FSR 0.3:1 on lots under 1,200m² (sliding down to ~0.27:1 on larger lots), building height 9.5m, front setback 9–12m varying by streetscape, landscaped area 50%, deep soil 30%. Heritage Conservation Areas cover significant portions of Gordon, Killara, Pymble, Wahroonga, Warrawee, Roseville and Turramurra — heritage character assessment is required before any DA. Tree Preservation Order is one of Sydney's strictest: any tree over 5m high or 0.45m trunk circumference needs Council consent before removal. Bushfire planning (Planning for Bushfire Protection 2019) applies in St Ives, St Ives Chase, North Turramurra, North Wahroonga and bush-edge lots — BAL assessment is mandatory. The 2024 NSW TOD reforms permit medium density inside 400m of Roseville, Lindfield, Killara, Gordon, Pymble, Turramurra and Warrawee stations, but Council scrutiny on built form and tree retention remains heavy.
Knockdown-rebuild builder in St Ives Chase — key facts
- Suburb
- St Ives Chase, NSW 2075
- Council / LGA
- Ku-ring-gai Council (Ku-ring-gai)
- Primary zoning
- R2 Low Density
- Typical lot size
- 1,200–3,000m²
- Soil class
- Class M
- Median house price
- $2.4M–$3.4M
- Home era
- 1970s–1990s
- Typical price range
- $450,000 – $1,200,000+
- Typical timeline
- 14–22 months including demolition
- Approval pathway
- CDC where eligible or DA for complex sites
Building in St Ives Chase — Local Context
Ground Conditions That Affect Your Build
Class M is the rule across St Ives Chase — moderately reactive. For your knockdown rebuild, expect engineered footings in the $15,000–$32,000 range. The variables that shift you up or down inside that band: building footprint, number of storeys, point loads (heavy stone benchtops, masonry feature walls), and whether the adjacent stormwater system needs upgrading. St Ives Chase is close to Mount Colah (4 km) station — site access on tighter blocks adds a logistics premium, which is why we cost cranage and material delivery before signing, not after.
Ku-ring-gai Council & Approval Pathway
St Ives Chase sits inside the Ku-ring-gai LGA, governed by Ku-ring-gai Council. For a knockdown rebuild, the approval question is usually CDC vs DA. Either CDC or DA can apply, depending on whether your design fits within the State Codes SEPP. We assess that before drawing anything. Either way, we manage submission, RFIs, and re-lodgement in-house — you don't deal with the council.
Where the Money Goes on a St Ives Chase Rebuild
Cost breakdown for a typical rebuild in St Ives Chase: structure and frame around 30%, slab and foundations 8–14% (driven by Class M soil), roofing and external 10–12%, services (plumbing, electrical, HVAC) 12–18%, fit-out (kitchen, bathrooms, joinery) 18–25%, and finishes (paint, tiles, flooring) 8–12%. The remaining 4–6% covers approvals, certifications, and site establishment. Buildana itemises every line so you see what you're paying for — no lump sums hiding margin.
Lifestyle Fit in St Ives Chase
St Ives Chase has a settled residential character. Mount Colah (4 km) from the nearest station. Local landmark: Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park & Garigal NP. For families knocking down and rebuilding here, the design considerations that matter day-to-day: orientation for natural light (north-facing living wherever the lot allows), separation between adult and kids' zones, a kitchen that opens to outdoor entertaining, garage size that fits a real family vehicle plus storage, and a layout that doesn't require renovating again in 10 years as the kids grow. Buildana designs for the long arc of how families actually use a home, not just the showroom photo.
Why Some St Ives Chase Builds Stall
Builds in St Ives Chase stall for predictable reasons. Lodgement defects (missing BASIX, wrong drawing scale, undeclared overlays). Soil surprises on Class M ground when the builder didn't commission a borehole upfront. Variation creep when the contract was light on inclusions. Trade scheduling gaps when the builder is over-committed across too many sites. Ku-ring-gai Council delays when neighbour objection triggers committee review. Buildana protects against each of these at contract stage — fully documented lodgement pack, geotech in the price, itemised inclusions instead of allowances, and a tight project-manager-to-job ratio that keeps trades moving.
Builder's Take on St Ives Chase
Timing on St Ives Chase KDR: demolition 5–10 business days, slab 3–4 weeks post-demo, new home 24–40 weeks to handover. Total 7–11 months. Compared to selling and rebuying in the same suburb, you save ~12 weeks of dead time plus $80K–$140K in stamp duty and agent fees.
One-contract KDR in St Ives Chase vs two-contractor (demo + builder separately): two-contractor looks cheaper on paper but the site risk transfers to you between the crews. Old footings, buried tanks, boundary disputes — all your problem. Buildana's single contract keeps the risk with the contractor.
St Ives Chase vs Nearby Suburbs
St Ives Chase vs nearby suburbs — key metrics for knocking down and rebuilding.
| Suburb | Median Price | Typical Lot | Soil Class | Era | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Ives Chase2075this suburb | $2.4M–$3.4M | 1,200–3,000m² | Class M | 1970s–1990s | Mount Colah (4 km) |
| St Ives2075 | $2.6M–$3.8M | 1,000–2,000m² | Class M | 1960s–1980s | Pymble (3 km) |
| North Turramurra2074 | $2.8M–$4.2M | 1,000–2,000m² | Class M | 1960s–1980s | Turramurra (3 km) |
| Pymble2073 | $3.2M–$5.0M | 1,000–1,800m² | Class M | 1920s–1960s (heavy heritage stock) | Pymble |
Median price, soil class, and lot size shape build feasibility and final cost. Buildana assesses every site against these and other constraints during the free feasibility stage.
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Quality Promise
St Ives Chase KDR projects run on one contract: demolition, asbestos clearance, approvals, construction, handover. One builder accountable.
How It Works
From First Call to Final Key
Free site inspection of your St Ives Chase property. We check lot dimensions, Ku-ring-gai Council's planning controls, existing home condition, and potential asbestos.
⏱KDR is the chance to get the design right — the new build doesn't have to mimic the original layout. We start from your block's strengths (orientation, slope, views) and your family's brief, then design the home the original lot always deserved.
⏱Licensed demolition of existing 1970s–1990s-era dwelling. Asbestos removal by certified contractors (if present).
⏱Your new home goes up on the cleared site. Engineered slab sized for Class M soil, frame, roof, fit-out, kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, painting, driveway, and landscaping.
⏱Handover pack: OC, structural certificates, BASIX, appliance manuals and warranties, paint colour schedule, maintenance plan, and the keys. Six-year structural warranty kicks in from OC date — keep the documentation safe for any future sale.
⏱Our Team
Oliver Alameri
Founder / Director / Builder · MPropDev · PhD Student
Ahmad Alameri
Accounts Manager
Claire Wendell
Project Manager
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Liverpool, NSW
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Last updated: 1 April 2026
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