Freecity Adds Crows Nest Metro Tower to $6bn Pipeline

A 40-storey tower will scrape skies opposite Crows Nest Metro after winning approval, ending months of debate over height, commercial space and the precinct’s new Transport Oriented Development (TOD) controls.

The scheme for 378-398 Pacific Highway, led by Freecity, carries an expected value of more than $600 million and delivers 178 apartments above retail and commercial uses on Sydney’s lower North Shore.

The North Sydney Council lodged a formal objection during exhibition, warning the proposal pushed beyond the intent of last November's TOD rezoning.

Its submission focused on an earlier 142.2m height, which exceeded the new 135m cap introduced under the program.

The council said the variation risked weakening controls across the corridor and criticised the reduced non-residential floor space, calling it “particularly critical given the site’s prominent location directly opposite the new Metro station”.

Further concerns covered equinox overshadowing, podium scale, setbacks, narrow footpaths, heritage impacts on the Higgins Buildings and cumulative pressure if nearby sites sought similar variations.

Freecity revised the design after exhibition, with further refinement following advice from the State Design Review Panel.

All habitable floors now sit within the 135m limit, although rooftop plant and lift overruns still project above the cap.

Cox Architecture director Felipe Miranda said the tower reflected the shift in scale across the corridor.

▲ A Cox Architecture rendering of Freecity’s 40-storey mixed-use tower opposite Crows Nest Metro.

“The building has been shaped to complement the character of the neighbourhood, contribute positively to the public domain and enhance how people move, meet and live,” he said.

The final scheme retains Cox’s tower form and introduces a three-storey podium with ground-floor retail and commercial space above.

Arcadia designed communal spaces on Level 20 with landscaped terraces, dining areas and city views.

The plans include 140 car spaces, 227 bicycle spaces and a 10 per cent affordable housing contribution.

Freecity called the milestone significant for both the precinct and the company.

Co-founder Lawrence Zheng said the approval added to the group’s $6-billion pipeline of 12 mixed-use projects.

A stratum agreement gives Freecity the airspace above the neighbouring five-storey building at 398 Pacific Highway, allowing the tower to cantilever its northern floor plate over the adjoining lot while the existing short-stay accommodation remains in use.

Freecity development director Michael Romano said liveability and access had driven the design response.

“This project reflects the future of urban living—design led, highly liveable and seamlessly connected to the city’s major transport, employment and education hubs,” he said.

The Sydney Metro imposed strict conditions tied to excavation, shoring, geotechnical risk, crane operations and real-time monitoring of potential impacts on tunnels and the station box.

The Metro advised the project could affect rail operations without controls, which now form part of the approval.

Demolition of 378-390 Pacific Highway will precede excavation for an eight-level basement. The adjoining building at 398 Pacific Highway will operate throughout works.

The tower joins a growing pipeline across the Crows Nest-St Leonards corridor, including a 50-storey mixed-use project at 617-621 Pacific Highway at St Leonards.