GWH Scales Back $160m Newcastle Senior Towers

GWH is tweaking its plans for a $160-million, two-tower development at Newcastle West.

The builder-developer has proposed the 14-storey towers for a 6631sq m site next to Wests City club at 309 King Street, Newcastle West.

The original plans designed by Fender Katsalidis were submitted in 2019 and approved in 2021.

“Since this date, the development has been subject to additional design review as well as external pressures,” the application prepared by Gyde said, “which has led to the identification of opportunities to increase the efficiency of its layout and improve amenity for future users.”

The changes were mostly internal, the number of aged-care facility beds dropped from 114 to 50 and apartments from 166 to 159.

▲ A comparison of the 2019 and 2023 designs for the14-storey senior-living development at Newcastle West by Fender Katsalidis.

There were also changes to increase the ground-floor allocation for commercial purposes and the number of independent living units from 82 to 107.

Nearby, the former Europcar site at 20 Denison Street, Newcastle West, sold for $8.1 million to Sydney developers Virtical.

The buyer formerly known as Core Asset Development purchased the property through CBRE agents in June.

▲ Virtical has engaged Construction Consultants as project manager and is in discussions with architects Tonkin Zulaikha Greer to refine the design.

Construction of the approved 20-storey mixed-use development is expected to start soon with completion scheduled in 2025. 

The tower would have ground-floor commercial, top-floor restaurant and bar along with 78 luxury apartments.