This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
QIC has lodged a development application for the next phase of its Castle Towers transformation in Sydney’s north-west.
The Village will be a mixed-use lifestyle precinct in the centre of Castle Hill, around 34km out from the Sydney CBD and 9.5km from Parramatta, including a hotel, a commercial building and three-levels of retail.
“The evolution of Castle Towers into a vibrant, multifaceted urban hub is an example of how we’re bringing QIC’s town centre vision to life,” said Matthew James, investment general manager at QIC.
“This is a bold new chapter for Castle Hill, which will deliver exciting new ways to live, work and play; drawing new audiences and delivering inspiration for future generations.”
The retail component will comprise a vertical village for more than 70 new retail brands, including dedicated precincts for apparel, beauty, healthy living and home décor. The Village will be built to complement the existing 300-plus retailers at currently Castle Towers.
The proposed 200-plus room lifestyle hotel is set to capitalise on the site’s position between Sydney and the Blue Mountains and returning demand for business and leisure travel accommodation in the region.
The Woods Bagot-designed hotel will feature views across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, premium event facilities and new hospitality venues to create a compelling 24/7 lifestyle destination.
2 Castle Street, the 12-storey A-grade commercial building, will be the first of its kind in the area and will be designed by BVN to include market-leading sustainability credentials.
The commercial precinct will also include a CBD-style dining offering, that should draw new customers to the region.
Finally, The Village will also feature a live entertainment venue, rooftop garden and other greenery-focused public spaces.
The precinct will benefit from its convenient direct access to the Sydney Metro line, providing unparalleled convenience for workers, visitors and residents.
The hotel and future office building are expected to draw more than 2,000 combined workers daily, with an additional 200-plus local jobs to be created during the construction phase.
“Castle Hill is home to a growing and prosperous community and is increasingly sought-after as a place to reside,” concluded James.
“Our long-term masterplan for Castle Towers responds to this need and looks to seamlessly integrate additional sustainability-led developments over coming years that will become exemplars of urban living and design.”
This latest submission comes shortly after QIC Real Estate’s managing director, Michael O’Brien, was elected as the Property Council of Australia’s new national president in March.
While earlier last month, the group submitted a development application for its proposed $750 million mixed-use precinct opposite the Albert Street Cross River Rail Station.
