Castle Hill locals slam Deicorp plan to build housing towers

Locals have lashed a plan to build towers containing nearly 900 homes in Sydney’s northwest, warning they will be another “depressing, ugly eyesore”.

A CGI impression of the proposed Hills Showground Precinct East. Picture: NSW Government

Locals have slammed a plan to build towers containing nearly 900 homes in Sydney’s northwest, with one labelling the proposed design “the most boring, basic building”.

But the developer behind the Hills Showground Precinct East proposal has defended the project, suggesting the objections may be “driven by NIMBYism” rather than any specific issue with the plan.

Developer Deicorp has submitted a state-significant development application to the NSW Government, proposing to build residential towers consisting of 873 dwellings in Castle Hill.

Four of the five apartment buildings would be 16 storeys high, with their anticipated size earning the ire of some opponents.

One objector pointed to the “towering” apartment blocks surrounding the Castle Towers Metro, calling them an “eyesore, ugly and depressing to say the least” and warning this proposal would bring more of the same.

An aerial view of the proposed site. Picture: NSW Government

An aerial view of the areas that would be accessible to the public. Picture: NSW Government

“The proposed height of 16 storeys is too high,” the submission stated.

“Another problem with the abovementioned development will be the additional motor traffic and residents within this precinct.

“Our existing roads, retail, medical and education facilities are already stretched to their limits.”

Another objection called the proposed design “the most boring, basic building”, and also took aim at the planned height.

But in a consultation report dated December 2023, Deicorp said it had conducted a community survey that suggested “unfavourable views of the proposal may be driven by ‘NIMBYism’ (rather) than any project-specific attributes”.

A current view of the proposed site from Andalusian Way. Picture: NSW Government

The report said there was a “strong correlation between those who do not support the project, and those who do not support any additional housing in Castle Hill”, with 64 per cent of respondents falling into that category.

“Unfavourable views are driven by concerns about increased crowding and local infrastructure,” the report said.

“(The) main issues of concern raised by respondents (59 per cent) include traffic and congestion, as well as local infrastructure like schools.

“Nearly half (48 per cent) of residents say no more additional housing should be built in Castle Hill.”

A CGI impression of buildings A and B, viewed from De Clambe Drive. Picture: NSW Government

The report also highlighted that the majority of those surveyed (62 per cent) rated housing affordability in Castle Hill as poor, with a staggering 87 per cent of renters agreeing with this sentiment.

Along with the residential apartments, the proposal also includes building basement carparking, stormwater drainage works, landscaping, a pedestrian link accessible to the public, and a subdivision at 3 Andalusian Way, Castle Hill.

The project has now entered the assessment stage, with the developer expected to respond to the submissions objecting to the proposal.