[+] Plans Filed for ‘Transformational’ Eight-Tower Precinct

Plans for an eight-tower precint that would ‘fundamentally alter the character’ of a Sydney growth corridor centre have been filed with the Hills Shire Council Sixteen houses would be demolished to create a 1.5ha site for the complex of towers up to seven storeys under the plans. The project is planned for an amalgamated suburban block in Castle Hill, north-west of Sydney. Documents before the council show the apartment buildings would sit on 16 lots across a total site area of 15,696.93 square metres. Sixteen single-storey and two-storey houses will be demolished to make way for the $80 million project, which will house 315 one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The development application has been lodged by town planners BMA Urban for Sydney-based architects Place Studio. The 16 lots—all adjoining—are bounded on three sides by Dawes Avenue, Hughes Avenue and Cadman Crescent, about 2.5km from the centre of Castle Hill and 30km from the Sydney CBD. It is not clear how many of the lots the developers have been able to secure to date. ▲ A render of planned eight-tower project at Castle Hills. “Land will be (and already has been) acquired and amalgamated and existing low density within the precinct will be demolished,” BMA Urban said in its application. “In its place, a high-density format residential development will emerge, thus fundamentally altering the character of the area.” Critically, the proposed development will be about 500m from the Showground Railway Station. The Hills Showground Station Precinct is one of eight station precincts along the Sydney Metro Northwest urban corridor on the new Sydney Metro Northwest Line. Under the Hills council’s 2012 local environmental plan the land package is zoned for high-density residential. BA Urban says in the application that while zoned for higher-density residential, the area remained low density residential in character and was made up of large, detached dwelling houses on lots of 700 to 4000 square metres. “Following recent development approvals, higher-density developments across the precinct have commenced construction and will continue to occur in the coming years,” the town planner says. “The proposal renews outdated building stock. “The new stock increases employment opportunities and delivers a residential form of accommodation in a well-serviced area.” ▲ The development would occupy a 1.5ha amalgamated site in Castle Hill. Souce: Nearmap The majority of apartments—190 according to plans—will be of two bedrooms. About half that will be three-bedroom and 44 will be one-bedroom. Three levels of basement parking will allow for 515 vehicles, plus more than 200 bicycle spaces. The development proposes a total gross floor area of 34,896.66 square metres. The eight buildings have heights from 23.15m to 24.82m, including lift overruns, making them 2.15m to 3.82m above the council’s 21m maximum height restriction. BMA Urban has requested a clause 4.6 variation review, which allows authorities some flexibility in the application of planning provisions. The town planner argues compliance with the height of building development standard was unreasonable and unnecessary. “There are sufficient environmental planning grounds to justify the contravention, which results in a better planning outcome than a strictly compliant development in the circumstances of this particular case,” it says. ▲ The precinct includes 315 apartments and is close to the Castle Hill rail service. The capital investment value means the eight-building proposal is classified as a regionally significant development, and will eventually be determined by the Sydney Central Western City Planning Panel. Early this year, The Urban Developer reported that plans to transform Castle Hill, one of Sydney’s oldest suburbs, were reaching their limits with the development pipeline at 90 per cent of its density cap. At the time almost a dozen development projects were in the works for the rapidly growing Castle Hill Showground Station Precinct, which was rezoned in 2017 to deliver 5000 new homes over 20 years. In February, The Hills Shire mayor Peter Gangemi told The Urban Developer that providing high-quality, well-built buildings was important for the area. “Residents have told us [that] they want a range of housing options, from homes that provide a good quality of life for families to apartments allowing a range of price points within the Hills,” he said. “The council’s own housing diversity provisions create these opportunities, however, around multi-level buildings a community must be created and how that might be achieved needs careful consideration.” You are currently experiencing The Urban Developer Plus (TUD+), our premium membership for property professionals. Click here to learn more.

[+] Plans Filed for ‘Transformational’ Eight-Tower Precinct

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