The NSW government has unveiled designs for a new station on the fast line from the CBD to Parramatta as part of the latest development application for Sydney Metro West.

Ten commercial and retail properties would need to be acquired to build the two-part Hunter Street Station, which is expected to feature at least one new tower.

Each site is about 3700sq m, one at the south-east counter of Hunter and George streets and the other bounded by O’Connell, Hunter and Bligh streets.

While details about the above Hunter Street Station development are limited, renders indicate the heritage building on the George Street corner would be retained and the new tower built next door.

The planning application also outlined how Sydney Metro would deliver 3.5km twin tunnels from The Bays to the CBD, under Johnstons Bay and Darling Harbour, as well as excavating Hunter and Pyrmont Street stations.

Once completed, the 24km Sydney Metro West line will run between Westmead and the CBD, with plans to extend the line to the airport line.

Sydney Metro recently called for expressions of interest to deliver the Metro West tunnels and station excavations, officially beginning the tender process for the project’s third major tunnelling contract.

Minister for transport Rob Stokes said the city-shaping project would double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD.

“Sydney Metro West will deliver new fully accessible stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays, Pyrmont and Hunter Street in the Sydney CBD,” Stokes said.

“This once-in-a-century infrastructure investment will have a target travel time of about 20 minutes between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, link new communities to rail services and support employment growth and housing supply.”

The project received its first major planning approval for the project concept and station excavation and tunnelling between Westmead and The Bays in March 2021.

A third Environmental Impact Statement will be released in 2022, when the community can have their say on the station fit-outs and precincts.