Rush of Approvals Sends Parramatta Skywards

A half a dozen tower approvals around Parramatta Square will send the city’s residential and commercial supply skywards at the Sydney Metro and Octagon sites.

Sydney Metro has won concept planning approval for its 2.5ha integrated station development of four towers around the Parramatta Metro station.

Three office towers of 38, 28 and 25 storeys, and a 33-storey residential tower, plus 505 parking spaces and ground floor retail, make up the plans.

Two consortia have been shortlisted to deliver the project at 41-59 George Street and 220 Church Street. The tender is expected to be awarded in 2026.

Lendlease Construction and Lendlease Development; and Gamuda Engineering Pty Ltd, Billbergia Pty Ltd, Gamuda (Australia) Pty Ltd and MTR Corporation (Australia) are those shortlisted.

▲ The build-to-rent tower (left) and commercial tower on the Octagon site in Parramatta.

Meanwhile, across Parramatta Square at 110 George Street, a 47-storey build-to-rent tower and 30-storey office building have been approved.

Property investors RF CorVal will replace the 1989-built Octagon offices, which were designed by John Andrews, who previously worked on the CN Tower in Toronto, with its two-tower proposal. 

The Hassel-designed scheme includes retail, co-working spaces and 397 apartments in the taller building, and 46,238sq m of commercial space and a childcare centre in the other.

Along the rail line near the Granville station, plans for a 32-storey tower with 492 apartments and 390 parking spaces including 16 per cent affordable housing have also won approval. 

▲ Renderings of the Gran Central project planned for Granville.

Sydney City Central Planning Panel has greenlit the Granville project, an alteration on 2019 submitted plans of 373 apartments and 352 parking spaces across 25 storeys.

Starryland and Longton Capital Group are behind the PBD Architects-designed Gran Central project, which will rise on a 5139sq m site at 61 Cowper Street.