Redfern office towers to be redesigned into residential apartments

A pair of office towers across the road from Redfern train station has planning approval to be redesigned for new apartments. 

An application to redesign and reconfigure the existing towers for residential and commercial uses at 1 Lawson Square Redfern was approved in 2014.

The modification, approved by the Department of Planning and Environment, will change the plans to allow for:

* a reduction in the width of both towers

* changes to the internal layouts of each floor of both towers

* six additional residential apartments to the original approval, an increase from 156 to 162 apartments

* amending the proposed design and materials for the external facades of the buildings to include concrete, marble, glazing and metal balustrades

A department spokesperson said the modification application was publicly available on its website and referred to the City of Sydney Council between December 2015 and January 2016.

“Key issues raised during consultation include privacy for nearby residences, size and adequacy of the revised apartments, the new façade design and proposed materials,” a spokesperson said.

“To address the issue of privacy for neighbouring properties the Department has requested south-facing windows to be treated with privacy screens and has included a new condition requiring all window sills in Tower 1 to be 1.7 metres in height.

“In addition to the reconfigured layout which will produce apartments of an acceptable size, the Department has requested larger balconies.