Liverpool: 22-26 Elizabeth St tower plans approved by planning panel
A $180 million proposal for a 34-storey tower with offices, units, a hotel and a rooftop restaurant has been approved, making it the tallest in Liverpool’s CBD when built.
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The tallest tower in Liverpool will be a “genuine mixed-use tower” with offices, residential units and a swanky rooftop restaurant, according to the project’s developer.
The ambitious plans for 22-26 Elizabeth St were recently approved by an independent planning panel and, with an eye-watering $180 million price tag, will see the site next to Liverpool’s police and courthouse complex transformed.
The tower — the original height of which was reduced by one storey to comply with Bankstown Airport airspace regulations — is set to be the tallest building yet in the Liverpool CBD.
It will include a 113-room hotel, 179 apartments, a ground-level food and beverage area, and office spaces on top of four levels of basement carparking.
Behind the project is Binah Developments, the Liverpool company that also built Western Sydney University’s vertical campus on Macquarie St.
The developer said “significant jobs” will be created during the construction phase while 5500sq m of A-grade commercial office space in the heart of the CBD will create 350 permanent jobs.
“The development will also activate one of Liverpool CBD’s most significant and high profile sites,” Binah development manager Aris Dimos said.
Mr Dimos said the hotel would offer “much-needed visitor accommodation”, adding it was “in very short supply” in the CBD.
The Leader reported last year plans for two other high-rise developments on Elizabeth St next to the 22-26 block, including a mixed-use facility featuring residential aged care and retirement living by The Uniting Church (NSW and ACT), and a 28-storey commercial and retail tower.
South West Sydney Tourism Taskforce NSW vice president and Ramada Hotel & Suites Sydney Cabramatta managing director Fazila Farhad believes the project will be a “window” for Liverpool to recognised as the Sydney’s third CBD.
“The project will create employment and bring about a modern skyscraper look to the Liverpool CBD, pushing the way forward in making its mark as the third CBD,” she said.
“The dynamics of people visiting southwest Sydney is very different compared to other Sydney suburbs and the opportunities of new businesses opening up close to the airport look encouraging as the government is pushing an earlier delivery of infrastructure projects.”
Ms Farhad said her only concern was parking, which was an “ongoing issue” in the CBD.
Liverpool resident Glen op den Brouw made a submission opposing the project, raising concerns about overshadowing, including over the heritage-listed Bigge Park.
“We should not be building 30 storeys within that old grid (layout). I just don’t think it’s good for Liverpool having all these shadowy corridors and that’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to start with one and they’re all going to be like that,” he said.
“You’ve got to see the big picture and the next big picture in the next 30 years is this corridor of 30-storey towers.”
Mr op den Brouw said the city had the opportunity now to plan how the CBD will look in years to come.