Macquarie Park: Stockland proposes $507 million business park

Major plans have been lodged for a massive commercial, retail and tech hub which will include a futuristic data centre, an ‘eat street’ dining area and bike paths. See what’s planned:

Major plans have been lodged for a new commercial and tech hub in Sydney’s north in a move developers say could create more than 11,500 jobs.

Six buildings standing up to 13 storeys tall would be built on a 4ha site in Macquarie Park as part of a $507 million proposal released by developer giant Stockland.

The development includes new offices, retail buildings, restaurants and a futuristic five storey data centre which would be used to store online data and information in the ‘cloud’.

There would also be 6000 sqm of public green space which plans stated could give workers and the wider community “a new treasured environment for exploring”.

The project would involve the demolition of the current Johnson & Johnson Medical building which was sold to Stockland during early planning stages.

A concept plan of the development

Stockland described the project as ‘being more than a business park’ with the site featuring bike paths, an ‘eat street’ dining zone, shops and outdoor areas which could host events including ping pong and work meetings.

“(The development will) provide options for workers to physically and mentally rejuvenate before, during and after work,” the proposal stated.

A photo of what the development could look like.

“We are excited about the future of Macquarie Park as it begins to evolve into a more dynamic and vibrant place that will attract a range of workers and visitors.

“It will also enable the collocation of future commercial office tenants from some of Australia’s largest and most innovative technology businesses, strengthening the economic role of Macquarie Park.”

Stockland is predicting the development to generate 223 jobs during construction, 11,531 once up and running and more than $2 billion for the local economy.

Future tenants are expected to be dominated by the technology, pharmaceutical and medical related industries.

The development proposal has been lodged by Stockland.

The development is expected to support more than 11,000 jobs.

Plans stated the new data centre would also respond to the “critical need” for infrastructure to store online information from industries such as healthcare, education and telecommunications.

Data centres typically feature huge ‘data halls’ that store and manage data in the cloud – a term given to computer programs, systems and information hosted on the internet.

Other features of the development include new roads running through the site, 922 basement carparks, and public artworks.

The application has been lodged to Ryde Council and is expected to be referred to the Sydney North Planning Panel due to the scope of the project.