Revealed: How north shore town centres are set to transform under plan to revive local shopping strips
Rock climbing in Pymble, outdoor dining in Gordon and new green spaces in St Ives – these are some of the features of a new plan to revitalise 22 town centres on the north shore and encourage local residents to shop closer to home. SEE THE PLANS
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Town centres across the upper north shore are set to be transformed with new supermarkets, parks and entertainment venues under ambitious plans to revive the region’s shopping strips.
Ku-ring-gai Council has released early plans to regenerate 22 town centres across the LGA under a strategy designed to meet the region’s growing population and a predicted shortfall of retail floorspace over the next 15 years.
Figures show the council area currently has 1460 shops in the region’s main shopping hubs and neighbourhood centres including Gordon, Lindfield, Turramurra and St Ives.
Without a strategy, the council town centres could be at risk of deterioration – resulting in increased retail vacancies, loss of jobs and residents venturing beyond the LGA to shop in Chatswood, the Macquarie Centre and Westfield Hornsby.
The strategy predicts population growth by 2036 will warrant five new supermarkets, 91,600 sqm of large format retail space along with entertainment venues including seven new cinema screens.
“The LGA Is expected to experience population and employment growth over the next 20 years (and) demand for retail and commercial space will be significant,” the council said.
“As the socio-demographic profile of the population evolves existing centres will also need to grow and change to meet the needs of the community.”
The strategy is not expected to be all smooth sailing with the plans noting the ongoing challenges of business struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the rise in online shopping and household debt and weak wage growth driving down discretionary spending.
The council, however, noted there was support among residents to “shop local” with retail spending in LGA expected to rise from $2.34 billion in 2021 to $3.23 billion by 2036.
Community feedback on the plan is due to open tomorrow until October 23.
GORDON
Gordon would be promoted as the “cultural heart” of the LGA with the strategy outlining plans for a community hub with facilities such as an auditorium, art gallery, library and parks.
The plan also flags new retail and food outlets, 2500 sqm of entertainment spaces such as a cinema, and plans for a “major retail tenant” in the town centre on top of the recently approved Aldi store, due for completion in 2022.
Other opportunities in the town centre include outdoor dining on St Johns Ave and the creation of a new town square or plaza. Gordon is currently the fastest-growing town centre in the LGA in terms of population growth with 5975 extra residents set to call the suburb home by 2036.
ST IVES
St Ives would be prioritised as an “active green” shopping destination with potential to capitalise on short-term visitors to the Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden and St Ives Showground, the strategy stated.
The addition of a larger supermarket would also be supported in the town centre along with the possible creation of a 2500qm entertainment venue. The strategy said plans to regenerate the St Ives Centre would also be prioritised. Annual retail spending in the town centre is set to increase by $167 million per year by 2036.
TURRAMURRA
Supporting a family-friendly lifestyle is the main aim for the Turramurra town centre with plans encouraging new parks, public spaces and a library.
An expanded Coles and second major supermarket such as an Aldi store have also been flagged as opportunities for the town centre with the Gilroy Lane car park scoped as a potential site to create a “revitalised retail precinct”.
The strategy said the proposed Turramurra Community Hub has the potential to be the “heart” of the town centre along with plans for a new town centre park.
LINDFIELD
“Thriving and diverse” is the long-term vision for Lindfield with opportunities for new shops, housing, parks and community facilities outlined in the plan.
Lindfield Ave would remain the go-to shopping strip in the town centre, while the historic streetscape of shops on the Pacific Hwy would be retained.
The plans, however, noted there were opportunities for increased density along the Pacific Hwy to meet population growth.
Major projects set to transform the town centre including Lindfield Village Green and the Lindfield Village Hub project, west of Lindfield Station.
SECONDARY
The plan outlines a range of strategies for “secondary centres” including Roseville, Killara, Wahroonga and Pymble.
In Roseville, increased density would be supported along with the potential for a small supermarket and a continued focus on medical facilities to support the needs of residents.
In Pymble, increased density would be supported on Grandview St, along with food catering tenancies to take advantage of the suburb’s transport links.
Similar plans have been flagged for Killara along with a “large format retail” store along the Pacific Hwy.
The Pymble Business park also has opportunities for new microbreweries and indoor entertainment venues such as rock climbing or a trampoline park.
NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRES
The ongoing viability of small neighbourhood centres would be supported through amenity upgrades including revamped streetscapes.
An expanded supermarket has been flagged for West Pymble, Fox Valley and Wahroonga Eastern Rd, while increased food catering services have been named as opportunities for East Killara, North St Ives and South Turramurra.
Other proposals include a new childcare centre in West Pymble, improved carparking in North Turramurra and plans to redevelop existing service stations in St Ives Chase and South Turramurra for “higher and better uses”.