Parramatta Rejects ‘New Generation’ Boarding House Plans

Property developer Conquest’s plans to build “new generation” boarding houses in western Sydney have been unanimously refused by the City of Parramatta. 

The proposal comprised twin, seven-storey buildings with 237 boarding rooms over two levels of basement across a 5052sqm site at 85-91 Thomas Street, Parramatta. The site boasts more than 3800sq m of developable land.

Rejecting the application, the Parramatta Local Planning Panel said the proposal was "out of place and character" for the area. The plans also received backlash from local community groups.

The project, slated to operate as student accommodation and boarding rooms, was designed by PTI Architecture.

“The development proposes a new generation boarding house designed to provide good amenity to residents more aligned with a studio apartment as opposed to a traditional boarding house,” the application said.

“And has been designed to appear as a contemporary apartment building in-order to be compatible and consistent with the existing character along the southern side of Thomas Street.

“The development will play a positive role in increasing affordable short term accommodation within the Parramatta housing market.

“The occupants of the boarding house will comprise persons of a lower income, but greater than welfare payment income, such as students, nurses, ambulance drivers and school teachers who will be given the discretion to furnish their boarding suite.”

▲ The development on Parramatta River near Western Sydney University campus was expected to be complete by early 2023.

Dundas Ward councillor Pierre Esber said the development would result in an incongruous and undesirable future for the street.

“It’s just out of character for the area, traffic is [also] an issue, but what I have major concern with lord mayor is the precedent it would set,” Esber said at the council meeting.

Esber added increasing the height limit from 11 to 22 metres for the site would also have a negative impact on privacy and visual amenity for the busy thoroughfare.

However this building was not the first “new generation” boarding house planned for the area, Sydney developer Revelop proposed an eight-storey building, which also included office space, in 2018.

The 52-room development at 109A Wigram Street, Harris Park was lodged in 2018 and ended up becoming 41 serviced apartments leased to co-living operator Hmlet with two retail tenancies.