Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic locked in tense battle with council to knock down their ‘modest’ $4.5million Sydney home and build a massive mansion with a swimming pool

Karl and Jasmine Stefanovic are taking on their council over a planned $4.5 million redevelopment of their luxury home.

The dispute between the celebrity couple and Willoughby Council is over the major renovation of their Castlecrag home on Sydney’s Lower North Shore and will be heard by the Land and Environment Court.

The Today show host and his wife filed a plan with the council in March to tear down their humble two-story home and build a four-story townhouse.

It would result in their house having five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a pool and spa, an entertainment area, a courtyard, and a three-car garage.

But the council has still not made a final decision on the redevelopment and the plans are considered rejected.

The Stefanovics submitted a plan to the council in March to demolish their two-story house (pictured) and build a four-story mansion

The celebrity couple’s plans would see their home have five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a pool and spa, an entertainment room, a courtyard and a three-car garage (photo, concept image of the planned development for the home of the Stefanovics)

A development application not approved by the council within 40 days is deemed to have been refused under NSW planning laws.

Those who have submitted the application can appeal to the Land and Environmental Court to review the plans.

Jasmine has since filed a legal complaint against the council The Daily Telegraph.

The couple purchased their home, a 1960s three-bedroom home, in 2021 for $3.2 million.

In the DA plan it is described as a ‘dated single storey’ house, while the new house will have a ‘modern design’.

The filing revealed that the couple’s plans included creating 102 square meters of living space below ground level.

It says that ‘the quality of life’ for residents will ‘improve’ according to the plans, while the proposal aims to ‘improve the streetscape and make a positive contribution to the environment.’

According to the development plans, the refurbishment ‘generally’ complied with Willoughby Council planning laws.

However, it failed to meet floor area ratio controls in accordance with local planning regulations. This is the ratio between the floor area of ​​a location and the size of the land on which the building stands.

Stefanovic, 48, submitted a development plan for the new home to Willoughby council

In the photo: one of the bedrooms in the current home

Pictured: One of the living areas in their current home in Castlecrag

In their proposal, the Stefanovics argued that the violation of the ratio of floor space to space was due to the ‘sloping topography of the site’.

They argued that as a result their redeveloped property would have ‘no detrimental effect on neighboring properties or the town/streetscape’.

But the renovation also led to objections from the couple’s neighbours.

In a contribution to the council, neighbor Winny Lee expressed concern that the development would affect “the view” of her family’s backyard.

“It appears that the top floor of the proposed building faces our garden and living area,” she said.

She explained that she also “didn’t feel comfortable” about the privacy implications this could have.

It is clear that mediation is planned between the Stefanovics and Willoughby Council as part of the proceedings.

Further hearings on the planning dispute will take place in February.