Developer Heworth were all set to take their Rozelle Village development to the market, having secured development approval twice and put together everything they would need to market the project.

However a clash with Transport NSW is putting the development, on the site of the former Balmain Leagues Club, in jeopardy.

Heworth, the landowner, is out of pocket millions of dollars over the intentionally protracted compulsory acquisition and later rescission of the site&nbsp;by Transport for NSW for the Western Harbour Tunnel project. The leasehold acquisition, which was for a seven-year construction lease, took place in October 2021 and was rescinded less than a year into the lease term.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/nsw/rozelle-village-former-balmain-leagues-club-redevelopment-set-to-launch">Rozelle Village, former Balmain Leagues Club redevelopment, set to launch</a>

Christopher Walsh, Head of Property at Heworth Holdings, alleges Transport for NSW’s actions over several years raises significant concerns regarding the use of their powers under the Just Terms Act and their improper conduct during the acquisition negotiations process as well as the eventual rescission of the acquisition of the site.

“This is a prime example of Transport for NSW’s exploitation and abuse of its unfettered powers and manipulation of legislative deficiencies. It’s disgraceful and we are,unfortunately, one of hundreds of similar&nbsp; acquisition cases gone wrong,” he said.

“It took Transport for NSW nearly four years to acquire the Balmain Leagues Club site and, subsequently, less than four months into the acquisition to find an alternate tunnelling site.

“Furthermore, the conduct in which Transport for NSW and their senior executives granted a $722 million construction contract variation to John Holland in January 2022, who would commence tunnelling works from the Rozelle Interchange instead of the Balmain Leagues Club, without putting the contract out for competitive tender, also raises serious questions over probity and proper procurement processes and could be the matter for an investigation by the current Labor government.”

<img alt="Balmain Leagues" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2c06edf2-5765-4f48-9958-cf93400fe0f7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%2010.18.37%20am_0.png?VersionId=22y4jztHxI6XEYyXj39gDsQ38EuTE9oS" />

Walsh warns dispossessed landowners of Transport for NSW’s historical track record of malicious behaviour, total lack of accountability and unapologetic use of loopholes in the Just Terms Act when carrying out compulsory acquisitions in NSW.

He alleges dirty tactics, unbecoming of an acquiring authority and model litigant, such as prolonged negotiations, unjustified delays, low-ball compensation offers and strategic exploitation of the Valuer General’s and litigation processes.

The matter returns to the NSW Land and Environment Court for a Directions Hearing on February 5 2024.

The matter returns to the NSW Land and Environment Court for a Directions Hearing on February 5 2024.

Joel Robinson

Rozelle Village, Balmain Leagues Club redevelopment in jeopardy after Heworth and Transport NSW dispute

The redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club has taken a big step forward.

The Inner West Council has signed off on amendments to <a href="/new-apartments/rozelle-village-rozelle-152-victoria-road-rozelle-nsw-2039">Rozelle Village</a>, the new apartment and retail precinct by Sydney developer Heworth. The amendments were to improve the&nbsp;original design scheme, namely changing the retail plaza and designs of the apartments.

<a href="/new-apartments/rozelle-village-rozelle-152-victoria-road-rozelle-nsw-2039">Rozelle Village</a> is set to significantly enhance and complement the local retail precinct and provide a new community hub for the much-loved inner-west suburb.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/nsw/rozelle-village-set-to-become-the-new-community-hub-of-the-community">Rozelle Village set to become the new community hub of the community</a>

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="677c8560-ff04-485f-9023-513735aa497e" href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/rozelle-village-152-victoria-street-rozelle"><img alt="Rozelle" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Track%20Listing%20CTA%20template%20-%20landscape%20%283%29.jpg?VersionId=9eqEwt17W270rLBe4o9EIaGTG5QKzI.K" /></a>

The site, located on the prominent corner site of Victoria Road, Darling and Waterloo Streets, was originally approved to develop 167 apartments across three towers, with all buildings connected above a shared retail and commercial podium.

Heworth has worked closely with architecture practice Scott Carver to improve the overall design scheme to ensure the final development will become a welcomed new addition and destination for the local community. The commercial area will include a new, state of the art, Wests Ashfield Leagues Club.

The amendments see apartment numbers drop from 167 to 149, and the mix change to increase the number of&nbsp;two bedroom and three bedroom apartments.

<a data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1750562-39c5-440c-842e-7bba96877b01" href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/rozelle-village-152-victoria-street-rozelle"><img alt="Rozelle" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Track%20Listing%20CTA%20template%20-%20landscape%20%282%29.jpg?VersionId=HZQWX3uf7h3Tj9vFKbATmh_HS_3PkgIL" /></a>

Heworth Head of Property, Chris Walsh said the significant improvements to&nbsp;the overall design scheme will benefit the local community, as well as residents.

“A key focus of our development is a new village square, public plaza and major retail and hospitality podium connected by a series of laneways," Walsh said.

"It’s going to significantly contribute to Rozelle and become a major community meeting place and destination.

“Our apartment mix, now reduced in number to 149, will comprise an increased number of larger two and three bedroom apartments as we feel the larger size floor plates and premium interior architecture, fixtures and fittings, will appeal to discerning local owner-occupiers, particularly downsizers.”

Rozelle Village’s bespoke retail precinct will be anchored by a major supermarket, providing greatly increased convenience to the local area.

Early site works are now underway with demolition planned to commence later in 2023. Rozelle Village is expected to be completed by 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=8142]

Rozelle Village is set to significantly enhance and complement the local retail precinct and provide a new community hub for the much-loved inner-west suburb

Rozelle Village gets closer to launch after improved plans greenlit

Village squares are having a resurgence attracting apartment dwellers with the deep sense of community, belonging and social interaction that they bring, together with the multitude of lifestyle conveniences and significant, well-conceived amenities.

Historically, they have formed the central hub and heart of the city or town – the place where food and produce markets are held, where business and community leaders meet and where celebrations of all kinds are held.

Rozelle Village, in the heart of Sydney’s inner west, will bring a 1400 sqm architecturally conceived village square to the local community, forming a new community hub of Rozelle.

CBRE Residential Projects Managing Director David Milton, who is managing residential sales for the project, said the suburb is well known for its charming high street featuring a collective of beautiful shops, cafes, restaurants and historic pubs and of course the famous Rozelle Markets but there’s no central hub or community centre.

"Rozelle Village will create this which will become a much-loved new asset and amenity for the local community,” Milton said.&nbsp;

<img alt="Render of Rozelle Village" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2fcb1071-b205-4956-be81-6c1500f4cd5f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Balmain_EXT_CGI_Streetview_Final_resized.jpg?VersionId=kHdZnzbqT_yN36seDe0rE.J42hheD_Yo" />

A true mixed-use precinct, Rozelle Village will comprise 147 larger sized residential apartments offering views of Iron Cove in the Sydney Harbour, the Parramatta River and the Sydney CBD.

A rich variety of private and communal green spaces are featured throughout the residential component, designed to enhance resident well-being while providing visual appeal and maximising viewpoints across the built form and the surrounding city views.

Construction of Rozelle Village is planned to commence in mid-2023 with completion due by 2026.

The architects at Scott Carver have designed Rozelle Village with Principal Thomas Hansen saying a village square as a key mechanism for placemaking in developments can strengthen the connection between people and place.

"They are underpinned by strong urban design principles, help shape contextual built form responses, and can act as a scaffold upon which community engagement, social connection and positive experiences can be built," Hansen said.&nbsp;

The new village square will be large enough to hold tailored events for an audience but small enough that children, young mums and senior citizens alike will feel comfortable there and enjoy themselves.

<h2>Vibrant, curated retail precinct</h2>

Adjacent to the village square will be a vibrant, curated retail precinct. Designed by retail specialist, Retail Strategy Group, the retail vision is to create a 
family-friendly, people-first, vibrant and conceptual lifestyle precinct.

It will be a destination for food lovers, where casual outdoor dining will intertwine with landscape perimeters of open public space and be the first of its kind in the district.

The precinct will be anchored by a full-line supermarket, leagues club hospitality and entertainment and the ground floor marketplace of casual dining, retail and three fine-grained laneways.

Located towards the back of the Rozelle Village precinct, the new village square will have pedestrian access from three new public laneways featuring verdant cascading green walls, both from Victoria Road and Darling Street.&nbsp;

A program of day and night activations will draw residents and neighbours to the village square and reinvigorate the area, becoming a meeting place and new community hub where residents and locals will shop, dine, socialise and enjoy.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=8142]

Rozelle Village development to contain a mix of luxury apartments, village square, laneways, leagues club and a major retail precinct

alisonwarters@gmail.com

Rozelle Village set to become the new community hub of the community

Property developer Heworth are soon to launch Rozelle Village, their redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club in Sydney's inner west.

The vibrant, mixed-use precinct, which will be centred around a new village square with a retail precinct and apartments above, is to be marketed through CBRE.

Heworth recently lodge amendments to the approved development application, seeking to reduce the number of apartments 167 to 147 and change the apartment mix, increasing the number of two bedroom and three bedroom apartments.

Heworth Head of Property, Chris Walsh, said the team amended the product mix to create larger units.

“Through our amendments, we are seeking to change the apartment mix increasing the number of two and three-bedroom apartments as we feel the larger size floor plates and premium interior architecture, fixtures and fittings, will appeal to discerning local owner-occupiers, particularly downsizers," Walsh said.

“A key focus of our development is a new village square and major retail and hospitality podium connected by a series of laneways.

"It’s going to significantly enhance Rozelle, provide new much-needed amenity and become a major community meeting place and destination.”

<img alt="Balmain" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0d325b5a-0d90-437f-a4d1-33c67a350778" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-17%20at%2010.18.37%20am.png?VersionId=hm57wWi8CK_VGZe2i8Qx9TlmsKdw54jd" />

Given the rarity of the project in a location not often affiliated with new developments, apartments will feature never-before-seen panoramic views over Iron Cove in Sydney Harbour, the Sydney CBD to the north, and Blue Mountains to the west.

Construction is planned to commence in mid-2023, with completion due by early 2026.

Scott Carver Architects handled the architecture of Rozelle Village, working in collaboration with prominent interior architecture studio Richards Stanisich.

Scott Carver Principal Thomas Hansen says the&nbsp;Balmain Leagues Club redevelopment presents a unique opportunity to transform a historically significant site into a cultural and community&nbsp;focused&nbsp;place for residents and locals to live, work, and play.

"The project is a true mixed-use precinct comprising high-end residential&nbsp;apartments, a new&nbsp;Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, supermarket, commercial&nbsp;and community&nbsp;spaces, and a food and beverage precinct spilling onto a central public plaza that is connected to the sites three frontages of Victoria Road, Darling and Waterloo Streets via&nbsp;a network of laneways," Hansen says.

"The innovative public domain and retail offerings integrate a variety of uses that connect back to the Rozelle neighbourhood, giving residents the opportunity to live above active public spaces whilst also enjoying panoramic views over the Balmain Peninsula and Sydney Harbour.”

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=8142]

The vibrant, mixed-use precinct, which will be centred around a new village square with a retail precinct and apartments above, is to be marketed through CBRE

Rozelle Village, former Balmain Leagues Club redevelopment, set to launch

Sydney-based developer Heworth has lodged amendments to its approved development application of the former Balmain Leagues Club.&nbsp;

The group has improved the original design scheme for what will be Rozelle Village, with changes to the retail plaza and apartment designs.&nbsp;

Set to enhance the local retail precinct and provide a new community hub, apartment numbers have been reduced from 167 to 146, with a change in apartment mix also, increasing the number of two and three-bedders to suit the current market.&nbsp;

<img alt="Render of the proposed Rozelle Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1313b901-e402-4394-ac1f-e192c3287d46" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/SC_ROZELLE_VIEW01_Final_Rev02_Edit-1.0-.jpg?VersionId=_bJf1vsPMNi7JS2gV7eRn1CV1fCEFtrW" />Render of the proposed Rozelle Place. Image supplied

Located on a prominent corner site, interjecting with Victoria Road, Darling and Waterloo Streets, the residences will be connected above a shared retail and commercial podium, which will include a new, state of the art, Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, which amalgamated with the former Balmain Tigers Leagues Club.&nbsp;

Rozelle Village’s retail precinct will also be anchored by a major supermarket, providing greatly increased convenience to the local area.

Heworth engaged architecture practice Scott Carver to improve the overall design scheme, with Head of Property Chris Walsh saying the amendments will benefit the local community, as well as its future residents.&nbsp;

“A key focus of our development is a new Town Square, public plaza and major retail and hospitality podium connected by a series of laneways. It’s going to significantly contribute to Rozelle and become a major community meeting place and destination,” Walsh said.

“We are also seeking to change the apartment mix, increasing the number of two and three bedroom apartments as we feel the larger size floor plates and premium interior architecture, fixtures and fittings, will appeal to discerning local owner-occupiers, particularly downsizers.”

<img alt="Render of the proposed Rozelle Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2522323d-1ff5-40f6-a39e-54649dea5dde" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/SC_ROZELLE_VIEW03_Final_Rev02_Edit-1.0-.jpg?VersionId=DkYx8wRZn6EsNyRnPG.BCgH6LnOgSkUP" />Render of the proposed Rozelle Place. Image supplied

Construction is planned to commence in mid-2023 with completion due by 2025. It’s anticipated the apartments will be selling off the plan in 2023, with CBRE marketing them. An on-site sales office will include a display apartment and full detail on the retail offering.&nbsp;

Wests Ashfield, CEO, Simon Cook said the Club was excited that plans had progressed on the redevelopment of the site and he was pleased the amendments by Heworth sought to improve the current design scheme. 
&nbsp; 
“The redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club has been years in the making. It’s highly anticipated by the Club members and they are very much looking forward to the delivery of a new state of the art facility,” Cook said.&nbsp;

Developer, Heworth submits amendments to approved DA reducing apartments supported by a major new Town Square, public plaza and retail precinct



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