TWT sees a new purpose for a rezoned St Leonards site

TWT sees a new purpose for a rezoned St Leonards site
Mark BaljakSeptember 16, 2018

The sustained urban renewal of the combined St Leonards and Crows Nest corridor continues with TWT Property Group looking to rezone a substantial site.

At 55-89 Chandos Street and 58-64 Atchison Street, a trio of towers are envisaged under plans conceived by Architectus. The fresh bid for rezoning is TWT's second tilt for the St Leonards land parcel after Allen Jack + Cottier spearheaded an initial rezoning scheme during August 2014.

At that time approval for building envelopes as tall as 172 metres were sought.

In the interim development expectations for the St Lenoards and Crows Nest corridor have heightened primarily due to the Crows Nest New Metro Station. Acting as a catalyst for urban renewal, a number of rezoning applications are in progress seeking substantial skyscrapers.

TWT sees a new purpose for a rezoned St Leonards site
In the heart of what will become an even higher density precinct. Image: Architectus

During April Eastern Property Alliance Pty Ltd sought to transform what is known as the five ways intersection site into skyscrapers spanning 193 and 162 metres. The 3,010 square metre plot addressed 395-419 Pacific Highway is considered a southern gateway location for both Crown Nest and St Leonards.

Conceived by Sydney Design Studio, the development sees a mixed-use programme inclusive residential, commercial and hotel aspects above a predominantly retail podium.

More recently Stockland revealed intentions for a similar sized twin-towered scheme reaching 63 levels and 45 levels at 601 Pacific Highway. 500 plus apartments monopolise Stockland's intentions across both towers, with a highly activated mixed-use 7 level common podium below.

TWT Property Group's latest rezoning bid is comparatively more modest. The site now contains thirteen commercial buildings, with three towers slated to take their place.

Architectus note "The architectural design scheme presents a mixed-use precinct which provides for a series of building heights that visually define the St Leonards Centre/CBD. The sites B4 zoning allows for a range of land use options. The site lends itself to being located in an existing Creative Arts Precinct in which the site currently accommodates a range of art studios, creative retail, gallery and community uses."

TWT sees a new purpose for a rezoned St Leonards site
Street level perspective. Image: Architectus

Consequently a creative arts space is located in the podium levels of the mixed use buildings. It along with a publicly accessible 700 square metre plaza and a new through site link form the backbone of the proposal's public uses.

Additionally 438 apartments, 1,650 square metres of retail and 3,258 square metres of commercial space is included. 

Whilst North Sydney Council considers the merits of TWT's St Leonards proposal, the developer has a number of additional residential projects in motion. New Life Bondi Junction and New Life Darling Harbour are both at construction with a combined yield of some 260 apartments, whilst a Candalepas Associates-designed is earmarked for Sydney's CBD.

The developer also holds approval for a maiden Melbourne apartment project at 180 Albert road, south Melbourne.

Mark Baljak

Mark Baljak was a co-founder of Urban.com.au. He passed away on Thursday 8th of November 2018 after a battle with cancer. He was 37. Mark was a keen traveller, having visited all six permanently-inhabited continents and had a love of craft beer. One of his biggest passions was observing the change that has occurred in Melbourne over the past two decades. In that time he built an enormous library of photos, all taken by him, which tracked the progress of construction on building sites from across metropolitan Melbourne.

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