Sydney development: New park and Pyrmont office tower to lift Cockle Bay

Sydney’s Cockle Bay will get a facelift with a new park and office tower as the CBD creeps to the water’s edge. SEE THE WINNING DESIGN HERE.

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The missing link between Sydney’s CBD and Darling Harbour will see one of the biggest slices of public land created in the heart of the city in more than a century.

The winning design for the redevelopment of Cockle Bay Park has been revealed, showing a new waterfront precinct connecting the CBD to Darling Harbour.

The redevelopment includes a soccer-field sized piece of public space in Pyrmont between Market St and the city end of Pyrmont Bridge.

This parcel of green space will be built over the Western Distributor, the road which connects the Harbour Bridge with the Anzac Bridge.

The construction of a 42-storey office tower will also continue the trend – set by Barangaroo – of the CBD expanding to the harbour foreshore.

It has also signalled Cockle Bay’s evolution from simply a tourist hotspot to one that includes business activity.

The 42-storey office tower signals the government intention to bring more development to Pyrmont, former NSW government architect Chris Johnson says.

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The revamped IMAX cinema, expected to open soon, will add to the area’s pulse.

Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the design includes almost a hectare of public open space and new waterfront shops, restaurants and bars.

“This area will be a great example of how we can deliver new tower developments that

also have a great benefit to the public, with almost a hectare of new public space to

connect the city to its harbour,” Mr Stokes said.

“Following the Stage 1 approval of this exciting redevelopment proposal of Cockle Bay

Park, a design excellence competition was held with six internationally-renowned

architects to ensure this significant part of the CBD was shaped using the best design

ideas available from around the world.

“The jury, which included representatives of the NSW Government Architect and City of Sydney, selected the winning design by the Danish firm, Henning Larsen.”

The new precinct will have bars and restaurants.

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The new office tower is less than 600m from the site of The Star’s proposed 66-storey apartment and hotel development.

The independent Planning Commission’s decision to reject that Ritz-Carlton proposal sparked a review of both the IPC and the planning controls around Pyrmont.

Former NSW government architect Chris Johnson welcomed the new design.

“This will also signal that more development can occur in Pyrmont – like The Star’s plans,” Mr Johnson said.

“Clearly sites next to the harbour are very important for the city’s character, so this is a good development that creates a lively harbour edge.”

The winning design for the Cockle Bay Park redevelopment.

Mr Johnson said the tower’s footprint was made wider so increased building height did not overshadow the proposed public square at Town Hall.

The release of the Cockle Bay Park plans come as the government this week called for public input into plans to allow towers of more than 330m in the Sydney CBD — dwarfing the 305m Tower Eye.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore did not respond to requests for comment.