After acquiring these sites last year, GPT has lodged a concept DA for a 40-storey commercial office tower at 81 – 83 George Street and 1 Barrack Lane.

The concept DA indicates a building envelope with a maximum building height of 166m, a-grade commercial office floor space with ancillary retail premises, a maximum GFA of up to 53,757sqm (17.5:1 FSR) and vehicular and loading access from Barrack Lane.

Detailed proposals for the site are to be the subject of a subsequent DA following a competitive design excellence process.

81 – 83 George Street are not items of heritage significance.

However, 1 Barrack Lane is a heritage item under Schedule 5 of the Parramatta LEP, which means the concept DA must be submitted as an integrated DA with Heritage NSW.

The subject site is also located in the vicinity of a number of heritage items, most notably the Perth House and Moreton Bay fig tree, which is almost 200-years old.

GPT has a number of existing office assets in Parramatta, including the newly completed 32 Smith Street tower and Eclipse Tower at 60 Station Street.

With 73,000sqm of new office space following completion of 6 – 8 Parramatta Square by Walker Corp and 6 Hassall Street by Charter Hall, the office vacancy rate in Parramatta CBD is flirting with 20%.