Approval to increase height of towers

Meriton Apartments has received approval to increase the height of two towers on the former David Jones site, in the Parramatta CBD, boosting the number of apartments from 390 to 644, and increase of 65 per cent.

Meriton’s initial application was for towers of 25 and 32 storeys, including plant levels, respectively; a further proposal was for the height of the 25-storey east tower to increase to 32 storeys and the 32-storey east tower to reach 50 storeys.

The east tower will contain 266 serviced apartments and the west tower will contain 378 residential apartments.

The two towers will be built on a 4-storey – up one storey – podium.

The retail component of the project, identified as Altitude on the banks of the Parramatta River, will contain 8 tenancies plus a supermarket; parking will be for 709 vehicles.

Parramatta City Council advised the NSW Planning Assessment Commission – the determination authority – it supported approval of the application.

The Director General’s report noted that the application was consistent with council’s strategic vision for the Parramatta CBD and would strengthen Parramatta’s role as Sydney’s premier regional city and second CBD as outlined in the Metropolitan Strategy.

Elsewhere in the CBD, Meriton has withdrawn a DA for the demolition and construction of two 13 storey buildings containing retail tenancies and 146 units, at an estimated cost of approximately $50 million, in addition to those on the site of the Meriton Apartments, on the corner of George and Charles streets, in the CBD,