Forestway Shopping Centre development: New supermarket, shops, swim school planned in $31m expansion

Sections of a major Sydney shopping centre are set to be demolished to make way for an expansion that would include new shops, supermarket areas and a swim school. See the plans here.

Forestway shopping centre concept plans

An ageing northern Sydney retail centre is set to more than double in size as part of multimillion-dollar plans for new shops, supermarket areas and a swim school.

Forestway Shopping Centre has released a $30.9 million proposal to revamp the shopping complex in a move to cater for soaring population growth in the local area.

The plans show sections of the existing centre will be demolished to make way for a new mini/major retail tenancy, an expansion of the existing Woolworths and new shops.

A new car park with 505 spaces across two basement levels is also planned along with a pedestrian bridge crossing the congested Forest Way – removing the need for pedestrians to cross via the existing signalised crossing

Other features of the proposal including a 1066 sqm swim school and a gym, and refurbishment works to the existing sections of the shopping centre.

A concept photo of the redevelopment.

Construction works would involve the demolition of the existing multi-storey car park, a liquor store, several shopfronts and the Star Car Wash.

An employee of the car wash said staff have been made aware of the proposal but had not been provided details of when the business would close or if it would be relocated to another site during construction periods.

Development plans stated the expansion would cater for the growing local population which has been driven by density growth in the Frenchs Forest area.

New retail areas are planned as part of the expansion.

“The future character is predominantly high density living (and) the area is anticipated to change significantly over the next 20 years,” the plans stated.

“(The expansion) will provide a positive contribution to the area by providing an attractive and modernised local shopping centre that meets the needs of residents.”

Plans stated construction works would be undertaken in two stages to ensure that the shopping centre can continue to operate while renovations are occurring.

New landscaping works are also planned as part of the expansion.

A concept photo of the expanded shopping centre.

Once completed, the development would boost the size of the shopping centre by 51.6 per cent.

The centre, which is currently anchored by Woolworths and Aldi, has been operating since 1964 and currently has more than 40 stores.

The plans have been lodged to Northern Beaches Council and will be assessed by the Sydney North Planning Panel.