Lend Lease Haymarket redevelopment gets green light

Lend Lease has been given the green light for its proposed concept plans for the $709 million Haymarket redevelopment.

The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure has given the go ahead to the new neighbourhood between Chinatown and Darling Harbour, which will be a main component of the new Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct (SICEEP).

“This is a green light for planning and full steam ahead for the remaking of Haymarket as part of our magnificent world city,” says minister for planning and infrastructure Brad Hazzard.

“Haymarket will be the hip place to be – a lively new inner-city residential and business community with new public spaces for the broader community,” says Hazzard.

Lend Lease’s proposed plans include nearly 150,000 square metres of residential space – to accommodate around 1,360 new dwellings and 422 student accommodation units – and around 50,000 square metres of commercial and retail space.

A pedestrian boulevard, including street furniture and public art spaces, will also run through the precinct.

“This new vibrant neighbourhood will help meet local housing demand for residents and students wanting the best of urban life and also be enjoyed by visitors attending conventions in Darling Harbour, who want a Sydney experience,” says Hazzard.

The concept development application was on public exhibition from 27 March to May 10 and during this time received public submission identifying key issues, including overshadowing, privacy and view loss but the department assessed these impacts to be acceptable.

The precinct will create more than 2,000 construction jobs and more than 2,000 ongoing jobs.

Completion for the Haymarket redevelopment is to be staged up until the early 2020s.

Lend Lease has also lodged development applications for individual student accommodation, residential and commercial office projects within the neighbourhood.