Chatswood: Cromwell lodges $123m plan for 18 storey hotel, office towers on Victoria Ave

The Chatswood skyline is set to continue rising under plans to build an 18 storey hotel with more than 150 rooms along with a green “eco roof”, restaurants, bars and offices.

A concept plan of the development

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Developers on Sydney’s north shore have shrugged off a sharp downturn in the tourism and hospitality sector with new plans unveiled to build an 18 storey hotel with more than 150 rooms in the Chatswood CBD.

Restaurants, bars, shops, offices and an “eco-roof” are included in new plans by Cromwell Property to transform a block of land bound by Victoria Ave and Brown St in the rapidly growing town centre.

Plans show the $123 million project would be built across three separate towers and include cafes, restaurants, bars and a public plaza.

The development would include hotel and office rooms.

The hotel building would have 159 rooms across 18 storeys, while two separate office towers would stand 10 and 11 storeys tall overlooking Chatswood Station.

While many of the city’s hotel operators are struggling to fill rooms in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to Willoughby Council stated the project could cater for office workers and businesses based in the local area.

Cromwell said the 4.5 star hotel would operate 24/7 and include a gym, pool, bar, administration areas and conference rooms.

A concept plan of the hotel tower.

“The new hotel will attract corporate clients to this office precinct (and) provide conference and visitor accommodation facilities in support of existing commercial land uses as well as cultural and entertainment uses east of the railway line,” the plans stated.

Cromwell’s head of property Bobby Binning said the project could also benefit from the extension of the Sydney Metro line to Bankstown by 2024.

Traffic and overshadowing have been flagged as potential impacts on the surrounding area with plans showing the development would block east-facing views from the Leura Building on the Pacific Hwy.

There would also be an extra 20 cars on the local road network during peak hours, however plans stated the project would benefit from 267 on-site carparks and local transport links including Chatswood Station.

A concept plan of the development

A site plan of the project.

If approved, the development would create up to 351 direct full time jobs with plans adding the project could “trigger new investment” in the town centre.

“The attractive combination of retail, and dining will set (the development) apart as a ‘go to’ destination in the local area,” the plans added.

Mr Binning said the proposal would cater for “the growing professional and residential population” in the local area and become a “vibrant destination for retail, dining and leisure.”

The proposal is currently under assessment by Willoughby Council.