This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
A 69-storey apartment and office tower is set to rise above Parramatta after plans were given the green light by the New South Wales government, ending a four-year deadlock.
Located at 2 O’Connell Street, on the corner of Aird Street, the tower will rise 217 metres and likely pip Harry Tiriguboff’s 66-storey Meriton tower at 180 George Street for height.
It will have 575 apartments and over 6,000 sqm of commercial space and replace a three-level building.
Approval has arrived nearly one year after council planners recommended the green light for the tower, and four years after initial plans were put forward by the 50-plus business owners at the site. They have publicly stated they plan to sell the site on to the developer.
Concerns about the project’s setbacks and impact on the public domain nearby were raised by retail giant Scentre Group, owner of the nearby Westfield Parramatta, while residents expressed worry about the risk of structural damage being caused by construction.
There were also concerns about its impact on airspace, and its potential to overshadow the 1790-established St Johns Cemetery, but that was found by a heritage repot to be negligible.
Some units at 15 Campbell Street will have their views impacted.
Meriton has just lodged fresh plans for a dual-tower project with 655 apartments on a 2.4 hectare site at Sydney Olympic Park, which would form the fifth and last stage of its Carter Street development.
Meanwhile, a residents action group launched legal action at the end of March to stop works on the $915 million Parramatta Powerhouse museum development.
The New South Wales government recently gave the green light to the project, which would claim the 140 year old Victorian Italianate Villa Willow Grove and deliver over 18,000 sqm of exhibition and public space.
