Telopea's transformation moves to the EOI stage
Telopea's tilt at urban renewal received a boost late last week as the New South Wales Minister for Social Housing initiated an Expression of Interest (EOI) campaign that will ultimately lead to a mass-scale redevelopment within the suburb.
The EOI process will target the private development sector and/or not-for-profit organisations in the expectation of leading a development team that will remodel the 64-hectare Government-owned land parcel. Telopea's master plan is likely to deliver an estimated $2.5 billion of new social, private and affordable housing, along with associated infrastructure over a 10-15 year timeframe.
The land in line for renewal includes 600 existing social housing dwellings and falls under the New South Wales Government's Future Directions in NSW Social Housing blueprint that aims to introduce 30 per cent / 70 per cent split between social and private housing on redeveloped Government land.
PBD Architects conceived Telopea's concept master plan, and have outlined the area's importance within the wider Sydney context:
This area is currently, and will continue to, undergo significant change and renewal as industries move out of this area of Sydney providing the opportunity for new homes, jobs and community facilities between Sydney and Parramatta CBDs.
The Telopea master plan area is based on an 800m radius east of the existing heavy rail station. With a total of 1400 existing dwellings that are a mix of medium rise apartments, dwellings houses, high rise apartments and townhouses, it is estimated that Telopea could deliver between 3500-4500 new dwellings by 2036.
With a focus on improving permeability, new connections across the rail corridor has been introduced. The tallest building will be focused opposite the light rail stop and transitioned appropriately within the core to facilitate the renewal of the denser and aged social housing stock.
The transitioning of building heights, together with the topography, will provide a clear urban structure focused on the station and core, and facilitate good solar access and views.
It's envisaged that existing housing stock will be replaced with multiple towers reaching 70 metres.
Progression to the EOI stage has prompted Urban Taskforce Australia to call for further urban renewal and cooperation between the New South Wales Government and the private development sector.
The Telopea project follows on from the successful outcome for the Ivanhoe precinct where social and affordable dwellings are provided to Government by allowing significant numbers of market apartments to be built. The outstanding design of a mixed use precinct at Ivanhoe can now occur at the Telopea site.
Telopea has a light rail station and the potential to develop a new town centre with a public plaza. The private sector development industry will be very interested in the Telopea revitalisation project.
The scale of the Telopea project where 600 old social housing dwellings will be replaced by 1,000 social and affordable dwellings as well as 2,500 market apartments demonstrates the value of developing a more urban character with greater densities than Sydney’s typical suburban form of housing.
By generating greater density and height around metro rail and light rail stations the Government is reinforcing the shift to public transport while housing Sydney’s growing population.
The EOI campaign will close in May, with the process of relocating residents in motion. Current residents will be provided the opportunity to return to Telopea as future stages of the project are completed.
