Further development foreshadowed for Entertainment Quarter

A new Concept Plan before the NSW Department of Planning foreshadows nine new buildings for the Entertainment Quarter and Fox Studios.

However, at this juncture, any details of the proposed developments are unavailable, and the developments themselves remain subject to approval of future DA.

As the total value of the Concept Plan is more than $5 million, it falls under the responsibility of the State Government. Future determinations on individual building DAs will depend on their projected value – City of Sydney Council is the consent authority for projects worth less than $5 million, while any valuations above that figure are the responsibility of the State Government.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the proposed Concept Plan, which increases the permissible area of development from just under 124,000 square metres to 144,000, would entail a loss of open space, including the removal of a children’s playground.

“The lack of detail makes it difficult for the community to assess potential impacts, but will make it easy for a wide range of future applications on the site to conform with the Concept Plan,” she said.

Planning instruments place certain restrictions on potential uses, but nevertheless allow for a broad range, including short-term accommodation, parking and fuel storage.