The NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has approved a three-tower mixed-use development on the Central Coast designed by DKO Architecture.
Known as Central Coast Quarter, the proposed $150 million development on Mann Street in Gosford, on the land of the Darkinjung people, will comprise 295 residential apartments, a 183-room hotel as well as commercial and retail spaces.
The proposal was first submitted to the state planning department in October 2019, but was referred to the IPC because of an objection from Central Coast Council. The department’s report stated, “Council raised objections relating to design excellence, built form, landscaping, flooding, sustainability, traffic and parking, environmental health and planning considerations.”
Central Coast Quarter by DKO Architecture.
A number of changes were made to the original proposal, including changes to the form of the southern tower, following the initial exhibition of the designs.
The department then considered the proposal acceptable, in its report to the IPC.
Commissioners Chris Wilson (a planner) and Wendy Lewin (an architect) were appointed to consider the proposal. The commission determined that the proposal should be approved, but it required that the gross floor area be reduced in order to reduce visual impact of the towers and overshadowing of nearby public open spaces. The commission also required a reduction of the building envelop of the podiums, in order to increase the width of the through-site link.
The development will be built in three stages with final completion in 2025.
