TOGA to launch design competition for Surry Hills shopping village

Developer TOGA is calling for architects to compete for the final design on Sydney's Surry Hills Shopping Village.

The City of Sydney endorsed TOGA's planning proposal for the redevelopment last month.

TOGA will extend James Street between Marriott and Baptist Streets to create a double-storey retail precinct.

A second through-site link will connect the site east to west, with a new 500sqm inner-city park.

Crown Street’s retail strip will be extended south.

Fabrizio Perilli, TOGA Development & Construction CEO said architectural firms will be asked to design a mixed-use development with more than 170 apartments and 9000sqm of commercial and retail space.

“This project presents the unique opportunity to design a vibrant mixed-use precinct and transform a piece of local history into a welcoming neighbourhood with an intimate connection to popular Crown Street and the broader inner-city area,” he said.

“Surry Hills Shopping Village will be rejuvenated into a lively destination attracting local residents and visitors to its thriving retail scene and pedestrian-friendly configuration.

“A mix of apartment and townhouse-style housing within the new development will provide important new housing options for a range of people, including families, looking to be closer to amenities and transport,” Mr Perilli said.

“We are thrilled to begin the design excellence process to realise our vision for the project as a vibrant local shopping and living precinct."

A selection of studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments and two-storey townhouse dwellings are expected to be included within the final design.

The design excellence competition will be run in accordance with the City of Sydney’s Competitive Design Policy and will be judged by a panel of property industry experts later this year.

Construction is anticipated to commence in 2018.