Liverpool City Mulls Plans for 20-Storey Residential Towers

Sydney-based builder-developer Lateral Estate has filed plans for two residential towers—each of 20 storeys or more—on the banks of the Georges River in the NSW capital’s western suburbs.

The Nick Andriotakis-led company is seeking approval for 341 residential apartments and 66 co-living homes on 7872sq m at Liverpool, about 25km from the centre of Sydney.

Online records show Andriotakis acquired the two lots at 31-33 Shepherd Street for $20 million in February last year.

He is now seeking to demolish the existing metal factory and a neighbouring brick building that now houses a towing business.

In its place he wants two towers—one of 20 storeys, the other of 24—above a new public road and carpark. A through-site link would allow access to the riverfront.

The Mosca Pserras Architects design includes 39 studios, 106 one-bedroom, 169 two-bedroom and 27 three-bedroom apartments, as well the 66 co-living homes. There’s a rooftop terrace of 1579sq m and ground-level open space of 3524 square metres.

▲ The riverfront proposal is set in a precinct, the developers say, which is transforming from industrial to high-density residential.

However, the development configuration means the two towers will exceed maximum height controls for the area—one by about 6.55m and the other by 7.53m—as well as maximum floor-space ratios and minimum building-separation standards.

SJB Planning, which prepared and lodged a Clause 4.6 Variation Request with Liverpool City Council, pointed to the co-living and open-space elements of the proposal.

“In order to deliver the anticipated outcomes arising from the masterplan the design response has been to minimise the building footprint at ground level and maximise the opportunity for public benefits in the form of a new public road, public carparking, a publicly accessible through-site link and publicly accessible open space,” SJB wrote.

“It is worthy of noting that much of the height exceedance is taken up by common open space and amenity and equitable access to these.

“The site is set in a precinct that is currently undergoing transformation from an industrial area to a high-density residential area.

“The urban design improvements seek to achieve increased permeability, movement, and public activity at ground level throughout the site as well as between Shepherd Street, Powerhouse Road and the foreshore area.”

Construction costs for the project are estimated about $109 million.