Chatswood Chase: Detailed plans show how $210.5m expansion plan will transform centre
One of northern Sydney’s largest shopping complexes will undergo a massive transformation with reconfigured shops, new dining areas, two new levels of carparking and outdoor terraces. See the plans.
North Shore
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One of the north shore’s largest shopping complexes is one step closer to becoming even bigger with new plans revealed for a long-awaited $210.5 million expansion.
Longer trading hours, refurbished retail areas, new retail facades and two new levels of carparking are among features of detailed redevelopment plans for Chatswood Chase released this month.
The shopping centre is already one of the largest in Sydney’s north – anchored by David Jones, Kmart and Coles – as well as 145 specialty stores and 2441 carparks across 10 levels.
The expansion would increase the amount of retail and commercial space by almost one-third and is predicted to boost the centre’s annual retail turnover by 10.2 per cent by 2025.
The development would involve a major reconfiguration and refurbishment of the lower three retail floors that plans state would provide a “better shopping experience”.
A new fresh food and dining precinct would be built including a revamped lower ground food court featuring a new dining hall with “premium dining” operators, along with a new gourmet grocer and quick serve restaurants.
Carparking would be removed on the third level of the centre to make way for new office and commercial space. Two new levels of carparking would be created at the northeastern corner of the site. Overall, there will be a reduction of 47 carparks.
The centre’s opening hours would also be increased to 6am to midnight, seven days per week, up from 9.30am to 5.30pm on weekdays and 9pm closing hours on Thursday.
The development includes landscaping work, including footpath upgrades surrounding the site, an outdoor “sky terrace” on the third level of the building, and a “sunken oasis” landscape feature within the shopping centre.
The facades of shops on Victoria Ave, Havilah St and Archer St would also be upgraded in a move centre operator Vicinity Centres said would improve “the public realm” of the surrounding streetscape.
The plans come after earlier expansion plans for the site were approved in March 2020, however were put on hold two months later due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vicinity Centres is expecting the new expansion plans to generate 1018 direct jobs as well as 207 construction jobs.
The total size of the shopping centre would increase from 69,995sq m to 90,375sq m.
“The new commercial/office floor space will be high grade and contribute to the growth of Chatswood as a key area for business activity,” Vicinity Centres said in its plans.
“The proposed redevelopment addresses a market need and demand through provision of an improved fresh food and grocery, dining & discretionary retail offer within the centre.
“The enhancements to the mall layout across all levels of the centre will also benefit the retailers in the centre and provide a better shopping experience for visitors.”
The proposal has been lodged to Willoughby Council and will be determined by the Department of Planning.
If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2024 and will become the first major upgrade of the shopping centre since a $185 million expansion in 2007.
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