Developer Freecity has filed plans for a 40-storey tower at Crows Nest, taking advantage of the Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precinct controls.
The interdisciplinary developer wants to redevelop a 1980sq m site at 378-398 Pacific Highway, across from Crows Nest Station, proposing a 156-apartment scheme.
The mixed-use development would “facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site” 6km north of Sydney CBD, according to planning documents.
A number of two and five-storey commercial and apartment buildings on the site would be demolished to make way for the project.
However, according to the SSD application, Freecity has agreed with the owners of a short-term rental accommodation at 398 Pacific Highway, built in 2016, to not redevelop that part of the site.
Instead, Freecity came to an agreement for the ownership and future development rights of the airspace above the five-storey building.
The highrise plans by Cox Architecture includes a three-storey podium with commercial and retail components, communal open space and amenities at level 20 and eight basement levels of carparking.
Of the residential component, 10 per cent will be allocated as affordable, and a swimming pool and barbecue areas are included in communal spaces.
The estimated development cost is $147.5 million.
It replaces an earlier project for 31-storeys, which got under way before the TOD plans were announced last year and was subsequently withdrawn in favour of the new, higher plans.
Under the TOD scheme, the maximum height for the area became 135m with a floor space ratio control of 12:1, and a 10 per cent affordable housing requirement.
Considerable development is in progress around the station, including Thirdi and joint-venture partners Phoenix Capital Investors, who were granted consent for their over-station development in 2024.
Deicorp was this year approved for a 22-storey tower by the NSW Independent Planning Commission after it was rejected by the North Sydney Council.
