Sydney’s CBD is on the up – quite literally. Since the George Street light rail opened in 2019, the city centre has been rapidly transforming, with a slew of stylish new bars and restaurants opening their doors, the metro improving connectivity, and Martin Place evolving from a relatively soulless corporate no-man's-land into a vibrant cultural precinct. And Sydney isn’t stopping there – a huge public square has been approved for construction in front of Town Hall, and now, the City of Sydney has approved new height limits in the heart of the city, allowing more towers to rise higher into the sky.
The planning changes – increasing permitted building height to 310 metres – were introduced to enable the construction of a new 70-storey skyscraper at 56–60 Pitt Street. Nearby, at 1–25 O’Connell Street, a 319-metre tower is also expected to rise above the CBD in the coming years. Though not officially approved yet, this 71-storey tower is “in line with the Central Sydney Planning Strategy,” according to Lord Mayor Clover Moore AO.
“These buildings will provide future workplaces that are in line with what business expects and that are essential for Sydney as a globally competitive city,” Moore said, after explaining how the Pitt Street development will benefit the city.
“This project will provide more office space, a high-quality design and outstanding public places, in the form of a new public plaza and a pedestrian through-site link connecting Pitt Street to Spring and Gresham streets.”
Both towers fall within the northern tower cluster area of Central Sydney, and while exact plans haven’t yet been made public, their height could reshape the city’s iconic skyline – surpassing the Sydney Tower, which currently stands at 309 metres.
Worried about what that might mean for your sun-soaked lunch breaks and city views? According to the City of Sydney, the Central Sydney Planning Strategy allows the skyline to rise while ensuring that sunlight continues to reach key public spaces, including Hyde Park, Wynyard Park and the Royal Botanic Garden.
“It was the product of three years of deep research by City staff, who worked block by block, carefully examining the way our city works and where sunlight falls. We can build tall towers in the city; we can see our skyline rise with iconic, sustainable buildings – when we follow deep, evidence-based work that considers the current and future needs of our city,” said Moore.
You can learn more over here.
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