China’s Changfa Plots 32-Storey Highrise at Chatswood

A China-based developer has filed plans for a 32-storey stepped residential tower in Sydney’s Lower North Shore.

The plans on exhibition for the 2216sq m site at 54-56 Anderson Street propose 117 apartments.

According to ASIC documents, developer Anderson Chatswood Development Pty Ltd is a vehicle of Huicen Development, Lavender Asset Management and Changfa, a $2-billion-turnover development group based in Changzhou. 

Changfa has a growing portfolio of Australian projects, including the 139-unit Ara Leichhardt, a townhouse project at Queensland’s Hope Island and The Palm at Palm Beach, also in Queensland. 

A planning proposal was gazetted for the Chatswood site in 2022, which rezoned the site from medium density to mixed use as well as raising  permitted building heights up to 90m. 

A previous application filed with the Willoughby Council to develop a 26-storey building with 84 units was approved for the site by the Sydney North Planning Panel in December last.

However, that was amended as a state significant application to incorporate infill affordable housing. 

▲ Rendering of the Chatswood tower designed by AJC Architects.

Of the apartments, 87 will be offered to market while 30 will be affordable units. The homes will be of one to four bedrooms.

The proposal also comprises a two-storey non-residential podium containing a lobby, commercial premises and restaurants, and a commercial tenancy on the first floor. 

Communal open facilities at levels one and 20 would provide terraces and co-working spaces for the $94.7-million project.

Changfa is planning a northern “pocket park” along the western boundary of the site, and 126 carparking spaces.

▲ Rendering of the proposed stepped Chatswood tower.

The project would replace low and midrise apartment blocks built in the 1960s and described as “a complete underutilisation of a site in such a highly accessible location with significant development potential”.

The site is east of the rail corridor of the T1 North Shore and Western Line and the T9 Northern Line, and the Sydney Metro's North West and Bankstown Line. The Sydney CBD is about 10km from the site.

The project aims to deliver “critical housing that provides enhanced liveability” with a diversity of housing typologies aimed at families, young professionals and seniors.

Developer interest in Chatswood is on a high after a major height uplift in its CBD, including plans for a two-tower proposal at 38-42 Anderson Street, near the Changfa site.

As well this year, Novus has revealed plans for a second build-to-rent tower, and Bridgestone and Billbergia have upsized developments to take advantage of infill affordable reforms.