Court Rejects Appeal over Contentious Parramatta Plan

Drivas Property Group’s plans for a cantilevered commercial building over a heritage site at Parramatta has been squashed by the NSW Land and Environment Court. G &amp; J Drivas Pty and Telado Pty Ltd took the City of Parramatta Council to court after the plans were refused by the council in August of 2023, a year after the plans were first filed. The LEC has now dismissed the Sydney-based developer’s appeal against the refusal to allow it to partially demolish and alter the heritage-listed item, the Murrays’ Building, and create a new building envelope of up to 67 metres. The plans by TKD Architects show the 100-year-old building with a new rooftop terrace above and a commercial tower of up 13 storeys on its tallest side at the 188 Church Street site. The impact on the Murrays’ Building and other heritage items in the area, and that the plans exceeded the maximum floor space ratio and did not reflect the desired future look of Parramatta, were the court’s reasons for denying the appeal. Commissioner Danielle Dickson said there was a fundamental issue with the development application and the detrimental impact it would have on the area. ▲ An initial render for the proposal to cantilever over the historic building. “While a future development application may add finesse, articulation and architectural design to the building envelope proposed in concept DA,” Dickson said, “in my view it cannot ameliorate the fundamental impacts that arise from the bulk, scale and siting of the proposed envelope sought in the concept DA. “It is these three elements which detrimentally impact the significance of the Murrays’ building and Centenary Square.” It has been an uphill battle for the Drivas Property Group, which also took Sydney Metro to the same court last year. That case regarded the compulsory acquisition of 220-230 Church Street and 48 Macquarie Street. The applicant claimed the land was worth $200 million while Sydney Metro said it was worth $119 million. The land held an approval for a 25-storey tower. Ultimately the court ordered it was worth $179 million with an additional $10.8 million to be paid for disturbance to the pursuant. ▲ The concept building plans for 188 Church Street, Parramatta. The three-storey Murrays’ Building was built in 1926 in the Inter-War Free Classical architectural style and was designed by Pitt and Morrow. When it opened it boasted a dentist, typewriting school, dancing hall, double maple staircases and an open rooftop garden restaurant, which was later enclosed.

Court Rejects Appeal over Contentious Parramatta Plan

Want to read more?

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

From Singapore to Sydney: Centurion Digs into Australian Living Sectors

How Designing for Connection is Creating Highrise Returns

Launching Queensland’s Future: The Man Guiding the Million-Home Plan

AI Gaining Pace But ‘You Cannot Synthesise Soul’

Court Rejects Appeal over Contentious Parramatta Plan

Want to read more?

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

From Singapore to Sydney: Centurion Digs into Australian Living Sectors

How Designing for Connection is Creating Highrise Returns

Launching Queensland’s Future: The Man Guiding the Million-Home Plan

AI Gaining Pace But ‘You Cannot Synthesise Soul’

Court Rejects Appeal over Contentious Parramatta Plan

Want to read more?

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

From Singapore to Sydney: Centurion Digs into Australian Living Sectors

How Designing for Connection is Creating Highrise Returns

Launching Queensland’s Future: The Man Guiding the Million-Home Plan

AI Gaining Pace But ‘You Cannot Synthesise Soul’

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

Eight-Storey Hotel Planned for Mexican Pub Site at Liverpool

Why Built Environments Demand Layered Thinking, Not Siloed Delivery

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

Eight-Storey Hotel Planned for Mexican Pub Site at Liverpool

Why Built Environments Demand Layered Thinking, Not Siloed Delivery

Rich-Lister Jobs Queen Pitches Pencil-Thin Brisbane Tower

Court Rejects Appeal over Contentious Parramatta Plan

Want to read more?

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

From Singapore to Sydney: Centurion Digs into Australian Living Sectors

How Designing for Connection is Creating Highrise Returns

Launching Queensland’s Future: The Man Guiding the Million-Home Plan

AI Gaining Pace But ‘You Cannot Synthesise Soul’

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

Eight-Storey Hotel Planned for Mexican Pub Site at Liverpool

Why Built Environments Demand Layered Thinking, Not Siloed Delivery

The Cloud in Your Basement: How Cooling Tech Will Reshape Data Centres

Eight-Storey Hotel Planned for Mexican Pub Site at Liverpool

Why Built Environments Demand Layered Thinking, Not Siloed Delivery

Rich-Lister Jobs Queen Pitches Pencil-Thin Brisbane Tower