Sydney Tower stands almost 330 metres from ground to tip (including the spire). Photo courtesy ANDREW KACIMAIWAI
The addition of two new 300-metre-tall buildings to the Central Sydney skyline has taken a step closer after changes to planning rules were approved for the city’s Pitt Street precinct.
On June 16, the council backed a proposal to increase the maximum building height and floor space at 56–60 Pitt Street for a 310m-tall 70-storey commercial building.
Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore says the new building “will provide more office space and public places (like) a new public plaza and pedestrian link” between Pitt Street to Spring and Gresham streets.
A proposal for a second 300m-plus-tall tower nearby is being finalised before public consultation happens, council says.
The neighbouring site, at 1-25 O’Connell Street, is expected to be home to a 319m-tall 71-storey tower built by Lendlease.
The tower site will feature 150,000 square metres of commercial floor space with a public through-site link, a logistics hub for businesses in the precinct and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.
Both sites are in the northern tower cluster area of Central Sydney, favoured by the financial, legal, property and technology sectors, council says.
Cr Moore says the proposal is in line with the Central Sydney Planning Strategy, the City’s blueprint for height and floor space growth.
“If we want Sydney to maintain its status as a global city and economic powerhouse, it’s vital that we safeguard economic floor space while allowing residential development to continue in the city centre,” she says.
Moore says the strategy balances skyline growth by ensuring sunlight access to public spaces like Hyde Park, Wynyard Park and Royal Botanic Garden.
“It was the product of three years of deep research by City staff, who worked block by block, carefully examining the way our city works and where sunlight falls.
“We can build tall towers in the city, we can see our skyline rise with iconic, sustainable buildings, when we follow deep, evidence-based work that considers the current and future needs of our city.”
Details of the changes: https://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/policy-planning-changes/your-feedback-changes-planning-controls-56-60-pitt-street-3-spring-street-sydney
