Station Street, Penrith: Seven-storey building planned near Nepean Village

A vacant block of land in the middle of Penrith could provide the area with more affordable housing over seven storeys. FIND OUT WHO IS BEHIND THE PLANS.

An artist's impression of a proposed seven-storey building in Penrith's CBD.

• Joe Elias alleged attempted Drummoyne kidnapping, fresh charges
• Cory Millar-Powell: Trial of budding lawyer who allegedly raped woman begins

Developers have their eyes on a prime piece of land less than a kilometre south of Penrith’s CBD, with plans for a seven-storey building lodged with Penrith Council.

The block on Station St, right across the road from both Penrith pools and the Nepean Village, has sat vacant ever since two single-storey houses were demolished.

Now, ADS Architects, with the support of Jim Aitken + Partners and Andrew Robinson Planning Services, has lodged plans to build a multi-use facility on the site.

The site on Station St, Penrith, as it currently stands. Picture: Supplied

The building would have a floor area of just over 2000sqm, made up of two commercial tenancies on the ground floor and 19 residential apartments above it.

There would be a double-level, underground parking accessed from Reserve St.

Of the 19 apartments, four have been nominated as ‘liveable apartments’ and seven have been nominated as ‘affordable rental housing apartments’.

The block has been surrounded by walls since the demolition of the two houses, and has been an eyesore in what is otherwise a built-up area of the city.

The site where a seven-storey building could be built in Penrith. Picture: Supplied

One of the walls around the block blew over in recent heavy winds.

A planner from Andrew Robinson Planning Services said the seven-storey building provided a “responsive design” to its immediate surrounds.

“It establishes and appropriate human scale through sound urban design principles while ensuring that environmentally sustainable principles are incorporated,” they said.

“The development will have positive social and economic benefits in terms of creating additional resident population that will in turn support local businesses and services.”

The proposal comes hot on the heels of the council’s approval of 270 apartments to be built on the old Panasonic site opposite Panthers Stadium.