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If there’s one person who knows how to make an entrance, it’s Sonia Kruger. But her plans to transform a $16.1 million Mosman property into a luxury dream home have hit another hurdle, with neighbours continuing to push back against the proposed development.
The TV personality and her longtime partner, Craig McPherson, purchased the coveted Balmoral Slopes property in March 2025, with plans to demolish the existing home and replace it with a spectacular new build. However, their estimated $6.9 million project has proved far from straightforward.
According to Domain, the couple have now submitted a second round of revised plans to Mosman Council after their previous proposal was rejected in July 2026.
Why are Sonia Kruger’s renovation plans facing opposition?
The original plans, designed by Koichi Takada Architects, proposed a four-bedroom residence standing 10.81 metres tall, complete with two elevated swimming pools. However, several neighbours raised concerns about the scale of the development, including its potential impact on surrounding views and privacy.
In May 2026, the couple submitted amended plans that reduced the proposed building’s height, altered one of the pools and removed a sunken seating area. Despite these changes, the Mosman Local Planning Panel refused the application in July on five grounds.
Not ready to give up on their dream home, Sonia and Craig submitted another revised application in September, featuring further reductions to the building’s height and scale, changes to the internal layout and the relocation of one swimming pool.
But the latest changes haven’t been enough to win over some neighbours.
According to Domain, the revised design still reaches a maximum height of 9.1 metres, exceeding the area’s 8.5-metre development standard by 60 centimetres. The proposed wall height also exceeds the applicable standard, measuring approximately 8.62 metres against a 7.2-metre limit.
Privacy remains another sticking point, with one neighbour expressing concern that the proposed main bedroom deck would overlook their swimming pool. Not everyone is opposed, however, with at least one resident submitting their support for the project.
Neighbours have until October 21 to make submissions on the latest application, which remains under consideration by Mosman Council.
A multimillion-dollar makeover in the making
While the approval process may be proving more complicated than expected, it’s easy to see why Sonia and Craig fell for the property. Set on a 743-square-metre block in one of Mosman’s most coveted locations, the site boasts sweeping views towards North Head and is just a short stroll from Balmoral Beach.
And if their previous Mosman renovation is anything to go by, the finished result could be spectacular.
The couple’s former home, which sold for around $20 million in March 2025, underwent an award-winning transformation featuring five bedrooms, a wet-edge infinity pool, internal lift and luxurious limestone kitchen.
Whether their latest project will receive the green light remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Sonia’s next big home transformation is already generating plenty of drama, and this time, it’s happening well away from the dance floor.
The history
The Gold Logie nominee and her longtime partner, Craig McPherson, who stepped down from his role as Seven Network’s Director of News and Public Affairs in April, believed they had found a winner in this deceased estate. Set on one of Mosman’s most coveted non-waterfront streets, the pair dropped a cool $16.1 million for it at auction – $4.6 million over reserve.
The ad called the three-bedroom house a “rare opportunity”, pointing out the prime position on the Balmoral Slopes with uninterrupted views. And what a view it is: 190-degree panoramas sweeping past North Head, with Balmoral Beach a leisurely 550-metre stroll away
Sonia Kruger’s renovating encore
The power couple sold their previous Mosman masterpiece just up the road for around $20 million in March 2025 – the same month they snapped up this new project. That former fixer-upper began life as a modest home before Sonia and Craig transformed it into a showstopper.
They bought it in 2015 for $6.475 million after moving from Sydney’s upper north shore, then brought in Corben Architects for a major redesign and rebuild. The result? A tri-level, five-bedroom statement home with a wet-edge infinity pool, internal lift, guest quarters, and a limestone kitchen. It even took home a Master Builders Award in 2022.
