Sydney's Norwest Business Park to get a facelift into a new 'smart city'
Malaysian developer Mulpha is planning a $3 billion transformation of one of Sydney’s largest business parks, Norwest, into a “smart city” with affordable apartments in a timely follow to the Greater Sydney Commission’s (GSC) three-city plan for Sydney.
Twenty-four years after it first built the 377-hectare business park, Mulpha plans to use its current land and property holdings in Norwest to anchor a new city core to include new apartments, retail spaces and more commercial towers.
The futuristic development with connected green spaces in Norwest. Photo: Supplied
It will lead the transformation project, and is looking for partnerships with other land owners in the area that currently include Sekisui House and mega church group Hillsong.
“As Sydney’s population and economic centre moves west, our vision is to create a highly desirable work and lifestyle destination that will attract entrepreneurial workers and industries of the future,” Mulpha Norwest executive general manager Tim Spencer said.
“In response to the state government’s Plan for Growing Sydney 2036, we are aiming to deliver a unique education and upskilling platform to be the basis of an evolution from the knowledge-based workforce into an entrepreneurial economy, opening up the future for 60,000 new age jobs, from the current 30,000.”
Lofty plans
The masterplan, to be rolled out over the next 10 years, was inspired by not only Sydney’s shifting axis towards the west, but also by the heavy infrastructure spending in the area including the $8 billion Sydney Metro Northwest that will run through the masterplan, and its location between current CBD and the future second airport at Badgerys Creek.
Mulpha’s vision of a revitalised city with Wi-Fi and driverless shuttles. Photo: Supplied
Mulpha has already lodged three planning proposals with local council for Norwest Marketown, the redevelopment of the retail centre to provide 1000 apartments and 110,000sq m of retail space, a 867-apartment, nine-tower project called The Greens, and a 400,000sq m commercial, retail, health and retirement precinct, “The Valley”.
These lofty sizes are possible in Norwest, which is the same size as the current Sydney CBD.
Answering the NSW government and the GSC’s call for “30-minute cities” and more “connected living”, Mulpha’s new city will also include driverless shuttles, cycleways healthcare technology for healthy living and ageing, off-grid energy options, and high speed public zone Wi-Fi.
Award winning architecture in plans for once-staid Norwest Business Park. Photo: Supplied
A previously announced Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) apartment tower has recently topped out, with residents expected to move in next year.
A team of architects including a+ design group will work on the project.
