Melrose Park is one step closer to getting more eateries, retail services and almost 500 apartments as part of the plans for a new town hall.
A Development Application (DA) for the 73,596sqm Melrose Park Town Hall has officially been lodged with the City of Parramatta.
The plans propose to turn the current site at 33 Hope Street, Melrose Park, into a “vibrant” mixed-use development.
A five-storey podium, six buildings, 494 apartments, retail/commercial space and two basement levels comprising of 1,459 parking spaces will be built as part of the proposal, if approved. The six buildings will include two 24-storey towers, two six-storey buildings, one 15-storey and one 12 storey tower.
The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) said the 30,000sqm of non-residential floorspace will create an active retail destination for the locality.
“The development will likely comprise mini and major supermarkets, convenience goods, food, beverage, cafes and eating out, retail services, gym, childcare centre, medical centre and hospital which serve the local demand of residents and workers,” it said.
The retail tenancies are expected to operate between 6am to 10.30pm, seven days a week.
The proposed development will also look to provide 6,679sqm of common open space distributed between the lower and upper area on the podium top, which will be the equivalent of 37 per cent of the site area.
“The common open space is generous and will be used for a range of activities and will include barbeques, playground, croquet lawn, covered picnic pods, viewing decks, soft landscaping and outdoor seating,” the SEE said.
The document states the redevelopment of the site will contribute to the vibrancy, economic success and housing choice within the Melrose Park North precinct.
“The proposal will provide a positive social and economic impact with regard to the development of the area and will be the catalyst for urban renewal and transformational change in Melrose Park North,” the SEE said.
“Importantly, the proposed development will provide the necessary services and retail provision to meet the needs of the forthcoming Melrose Park neighbourhood.”
The construction of the development will be broken down into two stages, with stage one consisting of building the entire podium, basement levels, the 15-storey tower, a six-storey building, a 24-storey tower and the structure of the other six-storey building.
Stage two will see the completion of the second six-storey building from stage one, as well as the construction of a 12-storey and second 24-storey tower.
Documentation for the plans said the mixed-use development will not result in any “unreasonable adverse impacts upon adjoining properties and the public domain in terms of overshadowing, privacy, views or visual bulk and scale”.
The site is currently clear of all structures and vegetation.
The application is to be determined by the Sydney Central City Planning Panel.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.