Build-to-RentPatrick LauThu 24 Sep 26
Uniting Church Goes Public with Plans for Burwood BtR Skyscraper
A 50-storey tower put forward by the Uniting Church for its site in the heart of Burwood has opened for comment.
The Turner-designed project dubbed Spire would comprise 492 build-to-rent apartments, including 74 affordable, along with a childcare centre, commercial space and community facilities.
The $340-million state-significant proposal, on show until October 7, adds to a pipeline of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of homes planned or proposed for the neighbourhood about 10km west of the Sydney CBD.
The proposal is for 134A-134C Burwood Road, 33 George Street and 29A-33A George Street, a site about 300m from the local train station and 700m from the future Burwood North Metro station.
The heritage-listed church from 1880 and church hall on the 5028sq m site would be retained, while a two-storey commercial building, a preschool and six detached homes would be demolished.
A floor space ratio of 9:1 would yield gross floor area of 45,243sq m across the central tower, as well as a smaller five-storey and a single-storey building. Just 163 car parking spaces are proposed for the transport-oriented scheme, about 20 per cent of the typical requirement under the BDCP 2021 local control.
Design of the ground plane has received particular attention, according to the application. A plaza, a heritage laneway, and a terraced garden or amphitheatre (responding to a steep level change on the site) are proposed.
Approval was granted in 2020 for a 26-storey, 124-home tower, along with student housing, a restaurant and other uses. However, that consent was not activated and has since lapsed.
In March, a state-led exhibition sought rezoning for Burwood North, with an additional 18,300 homes proposed. The existing Burwood Town Centre precinct has also been undergoing heavy densification. In August, Eloura Developments spent $18 million picking up 5 Belmore Street, with approval in place for 58 homes.
Meanwhile, Nascon is progressing a 40-storey and a 21-storey tower in the suburb; Conquest is pursuing a 39-storey mixed-use golden tower; and P&N Sleiman has approval for a trio of towers up to 40 storeys.
Work continues on the $230-million redevelopment of the Burwood RSL, while Holdmark’s under-construction Burwood Place project has been re-costed upwards from $600 million to $2.5 billion.
The Uniting Church has been active in development elsewhere, including a $134-million, 152-home mixed-use project in the centre of Coffs Harbour.
