A $7 million public park, which promises to revitalise the Merrylands Town Centre, has received the green light from Cumberland Council.
Developer Aland will now proceed with the next step of its $800 million Gladstone Village masterplan, after a development application for the new green space was approved.
Under the plans, an expansive central parkland and a collection of green communal spaces will be developed between apartment buildings.
The approved plans will also see the construction of fitness and sports areas, an adventure play zone, terminus plaza and public art.
It promises to increase additional retail opportunities by activating the frontage of ground floor retail, as well as promoting safe and walkable connections through new laneways.
The site is located within just 200m of the Merrylands Railway Station, at 4-4A Terminal Place and Gladstone Street.
The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) said the development will create a new vibrant precinct that is highly accessible and promote culturally diverse eating and shopping experiences.
“The provision of mix of land uses, activities, social connectors will provide social and physical connectivity, local diversity and cultural richness which will contribute to the liveability of neighbourhoods and the function and performance of the town centre as a whole,” it said.
“[The] development will achieve high quality public places including plazas and space that will promote markets and festivals encouraging social interaction and active lifestyles.”
The planning document added that the development will play an important role in redeveloping the north-eastern edges of Merrylands Town Centre, in particular the Neil Street Precinct
“At the completion of the overall project, the proposal will deliver new roads, parks, public space and walkways and a series of series of buildings across the site that will positively contribute to the evolving skyline within the city centre,” the SEE said.
The approval comes after Aland announced at the end of last year that several businesses – including Granata’s Italian restaurant, Desi Cutz barber, a fitness centre, childcare centre and a local grocer’s shop – will form a new retail precinct in The Gladstone Village.
Retailers will occupy both the ground floor and level one, with spaces ranging from 95sqm to 1,100sqm.
On completion, Aland said its 2.5ha masterplanned precinct will deliver 1,100 residential apartments across multiple buildings and publicly accessible amenities.
It has the potential to home up to 3,000 residents following the completion of the project.
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.