Developer Rethink Castle Hill Towers

Plans to swap out one and three-bedroom apartments for four-bedroom units in a dual-tower project in Sydney’s north-west have filed.

While building A in the project planned for 8 and 18 Garthowen Crescent, Castle Hill was unchanged, the amendments for building B lodged with The Hills Shire Council reduce the total number of apartments to 185 from 192 in the Turner-Studio-designed development.

The addition of four-bedroom apartments reflects a growing trend in apartments as families and downsizers look to vertical living.

The original plans for the $210-million project were filed in 2020 and approved in 2021, with some criticism from sections of the community over height issues and traffic concerns.

The development by Kassis and builder Dascohas has been dubbed Grand Rève, with the architects describind its as “contemporary luxury apartments homogenised with a beautiful landscaped podium, seating pods, lush intimate spaces and residential dining sprinkled throughout”. 

▲ A render of part of the now-approved twin-tower development.

Its location in the Sydney Metro Northwest Urban Renewal Corridor means that no more than 25 per cent of the homes should be one-bedroom units, and that 20 per cent should have three or more bedrooms. 

The Garthowen Crescent precinct is characterised by low-density homes with some medium-density development. 

There are also some new multi-level high-density residential buildings that have frontages to Garthowen Crescent and Old Northern Road. 

Castle Hill has recorded a surge of development activity recently, with plans lodged by Aretean Capital in February for a $79-million affordable housing complex, meanwhile major plans from QIC for the Castle Towers shopping precinct are full-steam ahead. 

One of Sydney’s oldest suburbs, the influx of development has led some to suggest that it has reached its limit for development.