Several development applications and proposal have been suggested for the Showground Precinct, as development in the precinct begins to return.

The gazettal of an ammended and restrictive precinct plan for the Hills Showground precinct saw several developers, including Mirvac and CG Group, pull out of multi-million proposals for the growing precinct.

CHAPMAN GARDENS REVIVED

A $60 million revised proposal for three apartment towers including 266 units at 16-25 Chapman Ave and 17 to 27 Dawes Ave, Castle Hill has been resubmitted to the Hills Shire Council this month by the CG Group.

The resubmission of the proposal comes after the Hills Shire Times revealed the developer had notified residents it would not proceed with the purchase of their properties in February.

“The landscape design strategy seeks to provide residents with a diversity of spaces and activities for their leisure that are both attractive and functional,” the development application said. “The development application seeks approval for the demolition of all existing structures on site (and) the construction of three residential apartment buildings.”

The revised proposal has decreased from 380 units across three towers as tall as 19 storeys in height to 266 units across three buildings ranging from 6 to 9 storeys high.

DAWES RISING WITH NEW PROPOSAL

THE REVIVAL of plans for Chapman Gardens comes as a development application for a $70 million eight storey apartment tower was proposed for 29 Dawes Ave, Castle Hill.

The CBD Core proposal sees the demolition of existing homes and the construction of an 8 storey residential building with 85 apartments.

The proposal sees the development of a single building with four residential quadrants.

“The proposed development will facilitate the redevelopment of a well-located, and currently under-utilised site relative to its close proximity to public transport including the new Showground train station and services in the Showground Precinct,” the application said.

CBD Core development representative Carol Rizk said the Showground precinct was an attractive opportunity for the developer, which also revealed it was currently working towards stage two residential plans for a $95 million development for 115 units as well.

“This area was an untouched region that gave CBD Core the opportunity to make our mark on the Hills District,” she said. “We want to provide a new standard of large-scale development that provides the lifestyle residents in The Hills expect.”

Ms Rizk said the two developments were the developer’s first take at large scale residential development in the Hills.

“Our pre-lodgement meetings with council have been great and very supportive,” Ms Rizk said. “Council supports our idea for high-quality communal amenities and we are working closely with them to achieve a good outcome.

“We want to offer a complete lifestyle package for our residents.”

FUTURE PLANS FOR CASTLE HILL ‘ISLAND DEVELOPMENT’

A LANDMARK site at the heart of the Showground precinct has also seen plans drawn for a 330 to 380 unit residential development.

An expression of interest resulted in a confidential agreement being settled on in November 2019, which a property sales consultant revealed could lead to a major development application being submitted for the site at 12 Fishburn Cres and 2 - 12 Sexton Ave, Castle Hill.

The proposal for The Island at Castle Hill could see the potential for more than 33,000sq m of residential space at the site, which is just 400m from the Showground Station.

The consultant said the property came under offer following an Expression of Interest in April this year.