Tired Cockle Bay Wharf set for a city-shaping revamp

Written by

Charbel Abousleiman

Urban Planning Lawyer & Buyers Agent

03/07/2023

A major assessment is being carried out by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for a 43-storey commercial tower at 241 – 249 Wheat Road in Sydney.

Once approved, the game-changing development will comprise the following:

4 publicly accessible podium levels with 14,000 square metres of retail floor space,
35-levels of commercial office space with 75,000 square metres of commercial floor space,
over 6,500 square metres of publicly accessible open space.

Over 6,500 square metres of new publicly accessible open space via a landbridge spanning between Cockle Bay and Darling Park will be delivered. The sheer scale of open space represents an incredibly rare opportunity to increase open space in the high-density inner-city area.

Cockle Bay Wharf is not well integrated with the city due to the disconnected created by the Western Distributor between Darling Harbour and Central Sydney. The precinct is becoming outdated and is not in keeping with the future of Darling Harbour as a vibrant and modern entertainment, tourist and mixed-use destination. These plans will contribute to mending this disconnect.

New park spanning over the Western Distributor

Historically, the site benefits from a Stage 1 Concept Approval and architectural design competition for 89,000 square metres of floor space over 2.2-hectares of land.

The land is owned by the NSW Government and managed by Property NSW. Majority of the site is currently subject to a long-term lease to the proponent. Further lease arrangements will be made between the parties to facilitate the long-term management of the project.

Geographically, the site sits on the southeast side of Darling Harbour. It includes the existing Cockle Bay Wharf and parts of the Western Distributor, Wheat Road, Pyrmont Bridge and Darling Park, as well as part of the pedestrian bridges connecting Darling Harbour to Market Street and Druitt Street in the east.

Darling Harbour’s precinct is undergoing significant redevelopment as part of the Sydney International Convention, Exhibition and Entertainment Precinct, Darling Square and IMAX projects.

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