Liverpool Civic Place: $121m plans for commercial, co-living hub

Plans for a massive commercial and residential hub in a booming Western Sydney CBD have been revealed. SEE WHAT WILL BE BUILT HERE.

Artist impressions of Liverpool Civic Place

A $121 million development application for two high-rise commercial and residential skyscrapers at the heart of Liverpool has been revealed.

Built Development Group submitted the stage two plans for Liverpool Civic Place, 40-42 Scott St, Liverpool to the council in December.

It forecasted the construction of a 22-storey commercial office building, as well as a nine-storey “co-living building”.

A stage one development application for the site features a six-storey public library, 14-storey mixed use building with new council administration facilities including a public library, a new council chambers, as well as commercial offices and a childcare centre.

The Liverpool Council partnership with Built Development will see a series of “new public spaces, community facilities and job opportunities”, according to a council report.

“On the southernmost portion of the site is the proposed commercial office building,” a Built Development Group planner said. “This building comprises lower ground and upper ground retail levels to activate the ground plane (the road), and 19 storeys of office space.

What the commercial and residential hub could look like.

“To the north of the commercial office building is the proposed co-living building — the co living building contains … ground level retail space and eight upper levels of co-living

accommodation.”

The planner said the proposal has planning merit as it “will revitalise a significantly under-utilised site within the Liverpool Local Government Area”

‘It contains large employment generating uses in proximity to existing transport infrastructure, consistent with transit-oriented development principles,” he said.

A Liverpool Council report said the old library building at 170 George St, will remain in council ownership and will initially be used for community facilities and programs.

“There is potential to redevelop the site in future depending on emerging community needs,” the council planner said in the report. “The Council offices at 33 Moore St, Liverpool, will continue to be leased and occupied by the University of Wollongong.”

Council will commit $195 million to the council components of the development, which include new council offices and council chambers, a new city library and community hub, a childcare facility, a new civic plaza and council and public parking.

Public spaces on offer at the heart of the Civic hub.

“The development application for the council works component was lodged in October 2020. “Subject to approval and development consent, construction is expected to commence in mid-2021 — the council works are estimated to be complete by the end of 2022 or early in 2023,” the council planner said.