Parramatta CBD skyline set to soar under Council’s bold new plan

The skyline of Sydney’s Central River City will soar up to 243 metres under City of Parramatta Council’s game-changing Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal, which goes on public exhibition today.

The bold blueprint will clear the path for the construction of taller, more slender buildings in the city centre – providing increased commercial floor space and capacity for jobs and housing growth.

“The sky’s the limit as City of Parramatta Council delivers a world-class CBD,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Bob Dwyer said.

“Changes to planning controls will allow buildings in parts of the City to rise up to 243 metres under our Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal, transforming the skyline in the heart of the Central River City. 

“Our comprehensive plan includes controls that facilitate growth while also preserving the elements that make the City liveable – its natural light, heritage areas, views of the river foreshore, and functional and attractive public domains.”

A 243-metre building is equivalent to approximately 62 storeys in a commercial office tower or 75 storeys in a residential mixed tower.

Council initiated the Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal to expand the City’s CBD boundaries and increase capacity for commercial opportunities and high-density residential development through changes to planning controls.

The plan lays the foundation for the creation of 50,000 new jobs and 14,000 additional homes in the Parramatta CBD over the next 40 years.

Under the proposal, the city’s well-known ‘Auto Alley’ will be transformed into a thriving commercial precinct. Office towers will rise up to 115 metres or 28 storeys, and the precinct will host more than 20,000 new workers and about 2,000 new dwellings.

“Auto Alley is a prominent gateway to our City and this makeover will give the Western Sydney economy a massive boost,” Cr Dwyer said.

As part of the Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal, a Draft Update of Parramatta Floodplain Risk Management Plans will also be on public exhibition. This document details how Council proposes to manage flood risks in the Parramatta CBD to support the City’s development and growth.

The Parramatta CBD Planning Proposal and Draft Update of Parramatta Floodplain Risk Management Plans can be viewed on Council’s engagement website and in person at City of Parramatta library branches and Council’s Customer Contact Centre.

Council will be hosting an online Community Q&A Session on Tuesday 13 October from 6pm to 7:30pm, and is also offering dedicated out-of-hours phone sessions to answer the community’s questions.

For more information and to provide feedback, visit Participate Parramatta. 

Submissions must be received by 5pm on Monday 2 November.