NSW Government approve $1b redevelopment of Castle Towers shopping centre
A $1 billion vision for the future expansion of Castle Towers has been approved by the NSW Government Planning Panel, featuring a heritage dining precinct around the historic Castle Hill Public School, open-air retail space and the promise of “Australia’s best cinema complex”.
- Six towers proposed for Castle Towers shopping centre site
- Castle Towers Piazza to be redeveloped
- Construction to commence of Castle Towers redevelopment
- 46-storey residential skyscraper for Old Castle Hill Rd, Castle Hill
A $1 billion vision for the future expansion of Castle Towers has been approved by the NSW Government Planning Panel, featuring a heritage dining precinct around the historic Castle Hill Public School, open-air retail space and the promise of “Australia’s best cinema complex”.
In October 2017, Castle Towers management and developer QIC revealed exclusively to the Times its $1.083 billion plan for the redevelopment of the centre, which earmarked a pedestrian link and open-air retail precinct surrounding the soon-to-be-completed Sydney Metro station at Castle Hill.
The plans also feature the development of a ‘Heritage Square’ that would see retail wrapped around the historic Castle Hill Public School and Police Station site.
Today, QIC Project director Ian Coltman announced the company’s board had given stage one of the redevelopment the green light.
Mr Coltman said funding for the pedestrian link between the Metro station and retail centre had been approved.
“The first stage of our development seamlessly connects Castle Towers with the new metro link via an integrated pedestrian link — unlocking significant opportunity for enhanced customer amenity and tapping into the densification emerging around the Castle Towers precinct, with the arrival of the new Castle Hill Metro Station,” he said.
“As part of this first stage of the development of Castle Towers, we will extend the existing Level One Mall to connect with a planned underground station walkway leading directly into the Metro station concourse.”
MORE CASTLE HILL NEWS
CUSTOMERS BOYCOTTING CASTLE TOWERS OVER PAID PARKING
STAFF CALL FOR CASTLE TOWERS TO PROVIDE FREE STAFF PARKING
CASTLE HILL: NORTH PRECINCT PLAN APPROVED BY COUNCIL
“It has been 10 years of hiatus, so this is a wonderful opportunity for our staff and the wider residents of Castle Hill and will bring new retail and revitalisation of the centre,” Mr Colebourne said.
QIC development representative Bruce Shaw said late changes to the plans meant the Castle Towers redevelopment would make “Australia’s best cinema complex” a reality, with a new state-of-the-art facility.
“The nature of the cinema shift is a result of the staging of the development, so the cinema can continue to operate throughout the entire redevelopment and be relocated to a new space without any disruptions,” he said.
The modified plans for redevelopment will see significant height increases for the retail centre, which Sydney Central City Panel Chair said resulted in some concerns and objections.
However, Director of Planning Andrew Dugan said the new heights “sits comfortable in the scale of the town centre” highlighting Hills Shire Council’s plans to increase development in the centre’s heart with the new Castle Hill North masterplan.
Previously a QIC spokesman said demolition and redevelopment work would commence in “early 2018”, however modifications to the plans and a lack of confirmed funding resulted an the billion dollar project’s timeline being extended.
On completion the redeveloped Castle Towers would feature more than 238,000sq m of retail floorspace, almost 8000 car spaces and the revitalisation of the Castle Towers Piazza, which is also to be determined under a separate $11 million development application to the Hills Shire Council.
The separate proposal would see a canopy erected across the entire 91,700sq m outdoor eatery, demolition work and a vertical garden constructed at the heart of the food court.
Unanimous approval from the NSW Planning panel comes amid plans for six new skyscrapers, after developers behind the retail precinct revealed a proposal for hundreds of apartments, two hotels and commercial space on top of the existing shopping centre.
The proposal calls for the development of two residential towers, 20 and 32-storeys high, as well as two commercial office towers ranging from 17 to 18-storeys and two high-rise hotel towers ranging from 13 to 24-storeys in height.
QIC Global Real Estate managing director, Steven Leigh, confirmed the company’s plan for future growth and shopping centre’s “transformation into a vibrant mixed-use hub”.
The proposal earmarks the development of an “iconic” 125m skyscraper at the heart of the centre, along with a range of lower scale development.
Matildas loss rugby’s gain as teens help Aussies end long Sevens drought
Grit, a fighting spirit and a pair of young guns - including one that was touted as a future Matilda - have helped Australia end a seven-year-long drought in rugby sevens.
Son of a gun scores century in U16s Green Shield decider
Records tumbled as a Northern District young gun stepped out of his father’s famous shadow with a century in the U16s AW Green Shield grand final. Full wrap, team of the year, 40+ GALLERY.