Filipino supermarket, retail hub development Manila Town pitched for Doonside

A vibrant Filipino supermarket and shopping hub has been pitched to a Sydney council for development, amid a “substantive demand” for a development of its type in the area.

A development application to bulldoze a block of land across from the Doonside train station and build a brand new Filipino supermarket and shopping precinct, Manila Town, has been lodged with council. Picture: Supplied

A new multimillion-dollar shopping precinct featuring a Filipino supermarket has been pitched for development in western Sydney.

Manila Town, a massive shopping precinct comprised of a supermarket and additional nine shops, is tipped to be built at 3-9 Cross St, Doonside – directly across from the train station.

A development application was lodged by Sydney developers ARDesign to Blacktown Council last month and asked for existing structures at the site to be demolished and the proposed precinct built in its place.

The project is estimated to cost more than $2.59m, but the application is yet to be approved.

Artist impressions of the proposed shopping precinct, Manila Town.

The site is primarily vacant, with only a small house and a telecommunications tower – the latter of which will be retained for the proposed development.

Development plans show Manila Town will be split into two buildings divided by a driveway leading into a 57-spot car park, including two disabled spots, and a further three bike parks.

One building will include the “small scale” Manilla Town Supermarket and six smaller retail spaces, while the other will include a further three retail spaces and a communal seating area.

Artist impressions of the proposed shopping precinct, Manila Town.

Each building will be surrounded by a footpath.

Development documents state the proposed development was created in consultation with representatives from the Philippines Government and the trade investment centre.

“The Blacktown LGA is home to one in four Filipino’s in Sydney being a ‘hotspot’ of those who have settled in Sydney and now call Blacktown ‘home’,” the documents state.

Artist impressions of the proposed shopping precinct, Manila Town.

“It has been identified that there is a substantive demand for a development project that is reflective of the Filipino culture and therefore this proposal seeks to create an offering and retail ‘flavour’ reflective of the Filipino culture in the Blacktown LGA.”

If approved, the supermarket is proposed to be open between 7am and 8pm, seven days a week.

The future plans for the remaining nine retail spaces will be subject to future development applications.

ARDesign has been contacted for comment.