Week 2: What Castle Hill could look like in 2037

PART 2: With a soon-to-be redeveloped Castle Towers at its heart, Castle Hill will soon be transformed by high rise development. Take a look at our before and after visions.

What Castle Hill could look like in 2037 under current zoning plans, planning proposals and development applications. Base aerial image provided by cinemairap.com.au

• Week one: What Cherrybrook could look like in 2037
• Castle Towers expansion in-depth
• Five tower proposal behind Castle Towers
• Could towers rise above Castle Towers?

EARLY work on the $900 million upgrade of Castle Towers is progressing and construction schedules are being finalised.

The Joint Regional Planning Panel approved the much awaited redevelopment plans for Castle Towers in September last year.

At the time, QIC Global Real Estate managing director Steven Leigh, said: “The new Castle Towers will be as much about lifestyle, recreation, entertainment, experiential events and dining as it will be an outstanding retail destination.”

The redevelopment will increase the size Castle Towers by up to 80,000sqm and increase parking capacity to more than 8000 vehicles.

Castle Towers already acts as the gravitational centre of the Castle Hill CBD, providing a significant retail, entertainment and employment hub for the region.

Its redevelopment will only enhance that role, with an updated cinema complex, dining and retail areas, as well as creating an estimated 2373 jobs.

The plaza to be built around the new metro station will be designed with pedestrian flow to and from Castle Towers in mind.

An artist's impression of what the new Piazza and restaurant areas will look like after the $900 million redevelopment of Castle Towers Shopping Centre.

Neighbouring developments, including the Atmosphere towers in Crane Rd and the proposed development in Pennant St/Old Castle Hill Rd, will also be developed with linkages in mind, with the latter proposing a pedestrian overpass over Pennant St to Castle Towers.

Castle Towers is also expected to be designed to allow through pedestrian access at all times.

Castle Towers centre manager Martin Ollis, told the Times on Friday: “We are now well under way with final detailed planning to determine construction schedules and key preparatory works continue to be undertaken.

“There are still a number of steps to be completed and we will be sure to keep the community informed as we reach key milestones.”

Ar artist’s impression of the Atmosphere towers, which are currently under construction on Crane Rd.

Work on the new ticketless parking system has also started.

A number of the system elements are already in place in carparks and the centre entrances, but an activation date is still some months away.

Mr Ollis said the system was designed to ensure convenient access and allow customers to find a parking place “quickly and easily”.

“Using licence-plate recognition to track parking without the need for a paper ticket means vehicles will not be required to stop on entry to wait for a ticket to be issued, ensuring entry and exit from the carpark will be quick and easy,” he said.

An artist’s impression of the development proposed for the vacant land behind Castle Towers on Pennant St and Old Castle Hill Rd.

When activated, parking will be free for the first three hours. Cinema patrons will also be able to access an additional hour of free parking after validation.

Parking fees will start at $5 with timed rates up to maximum daily rate of $40. Entry will be free after 6pm.

QIC has also made representations to The Hills Shire Council regarding potential development on the site after the $900 redevelopment.

Residential or commercial towers of 22 storeys could be built above Castle Towers in the future.

In a report to the council, QIC said: “There is likely to be strong demand for both commercial office and tourist and visitor accommodation within the Castle Hill town centre over the medium to long-term”.

Next week we will visit the Showground precinct in Castle Hill.