Waterloo over-station development approved

The NSW government has approved a concept proposal for an over-station development that includes three residential towers of up to 29 storeys and four commercial towers of up to 10 storeys above and surrounding Waterloo Station in inner Sydney.

A concept development application with drawings prepared by Turner and Turf Design was submitted for the development of the Waterloo Metro Quarter precinct in November 2018. The site is bound by Botany Road and Raglan, Cope and Wellington Streets. The Design Guidelines indicated that a lead architect would be responsible for the design of the station, ground plane, podium levels and any buildings immediately above the station while at least three other architects will be engaged to design the taller towers and a proposed community building.

Waterloo is a new station in the Sydney Metro network and together with the planned mixed-used development around the station, the government hopes it will be a “key catalyst” for the area and for the adjacent Waterloo Estate.

The precise details of the development would be decided during the detailed design process, but could include around 700 dwellings and commercial space for 450 workers, or 450 homes. The precinct will contain 70 social housing dwellings.

It will also include retail and entertainment space, recreational facilities and at least 2,000 square metres for community uses.

“The integrated station development will create a vibrant, mixed use local centre that serves as the gateway to the Waterloo Precinct and caters to the needs of the Metro Quarter, Waterloo Estate and metro customers,” the Design Guidelines statement read.

“The built form and public domain will distinctively reflect the local character and respond to place and its context and deliver high quality architecture.”

Among the strategies employed to achieve this will be to create a pair of plazas adjacent to the station entry, with one north-facing plaza along Raglan Street and another along Cope Street that engages with the Waterloo Estate and the Waterloo Congregational Church.

Rob Stokes, NSW planning minister, said in a statement, “Waterloo is already one of Sydney’s most-loved suburbs, with easy access to all of the things that make our city great and it’s going to get even better.”

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