Complex with 271 units earmarked for George St at Blacktown

A DEVELOPER has snapped up a Blacktown development site for almost $20 million and earmarked it for a 271-unit complex.

An artist’s impression of an apartment block to spring up on George St, Blacktown.

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A DEVELOPER has snapped up a Blacktown development site for almost $20 million and earmarked it for a 271-unit complex.

The 4644sq m block at 5-19 George St was sold last month by Savills agents Neil Cooke, Robert Lowe and Stuart Cox on behalf of Blacktown Council.

Mr Cooke said the sale price was above expectations, with the property attracting strong interest from local and overseas developers during a five-week campaign.

The area marked in yellow (below, centre), is earmarked for the apartment complex.

“It was like a blank canvas for a developer to do what they wanted to do,” he said.

“They’ve got to run their own development application process with council.”

The units will occupy the George St site shaded in yellow.

Currently occupied by a carpark and a car rental business, the property comprises two lots with three street frontages and mixed-use zoning that provides for a 56m height limit.

The units will be built at the corner of Sunnyholt Rd and George St.

A draft concept scheme, prepared by Cox Architecture, proposed 271 apartments and 6320sq m of retail and commercial space, and underground parking. The block is in the CBD and is close to Blacktown train station and Westpoint Blacktown Hospital.

Mr Cooke said the development of the property would be a catalyst for more developments in line with the Blacktown City Centre masterplan.

In May 2015, the council signed off on the 20-year Local Environment Plan which was created to address the population increase, which is forecast to rise from 340,000 to 540,000 residents by 2036.

Mr Cooke said buyers were attracted to Blacktown because it offered a lot more affordable prices.