A major proposal to transform Cockle Bay Wharf at Darling Harbour has cleared its latest approval milestone, paving the way for demolition works and the start of a three‑year construction program. The revised plans include a 43‑storey mixed-use tower, expanded pedestrian links and a new garden structure built above the Western Distributor.

The $891‑million project, led by GPT and backed by the Mirvac Wholesale Office Fund, spans 241–249 Wheat Road and originally received concept approval in 2019 from the Independent Planning Commission for a Henning Larsen design.

A Major New Tower and Elevated Parkland

The 2.2‑hectare precinct will be anchored by a 183‑metre tower with 89,000sq m of gross floor area, made up of:

• 75,000sq m commercial
• 14,000sq m retail
• At least 6500sq m of public space

The approved amendments reflect changes across the Darling Harbour precinct, including the 2023 completion of the Ribbon/IMAX redevelopment and ongoing upgrades around Tumbalong Park.

Mirvac’s $1.2‑billion Harbourside redevelopment, currently at its 20th level and due for completion in 2027, has also reshaped the area’s masterplanning context.

Improved Pedestrian Connectivity

The updated approval, granted via the State Significant Development pathway, allows an enlarged podium to deliver:

• A new pedestrian bridge to Market Street
• Lifts, elevators and improved links from the Pyrmont Bridge
• Pergolas and 555 bicycle parking spaces

The podium height will increase by 3.1 metres, and no car parking will be provided.

Public open space across the project totals 15,089sq m, including a 5500sq m rooftop park above the Western Distributor. The design will also introduce 511 new trees, targeting 30.6 per cent canopy coverage.

The existing Crescent Gardens area will be reduced from 3280sq m to 2940sq m.

Part of Growing Activity Across GPT’s Portfolio

The approval comes amid a series of major moves by GPT:

• In October, GPT entered a new partnership with CSC for the $1.72‑billion Grosvenor Place tower at 225 George Street.
• In November, GPT secured Asahi Beverages as the anchor tenant for the $1‑billion Deer Park Estate logistics precinct in Melbourne.
• Also in November, the GPT Wholesale Office Fund sold 750 Collins Street in Melbourne for $383 million to Singapore‑based Trust Capital Advisors.

With approvals now in place, early works at Cockle Bay Wharf can commence, setting the redevelopment on course to become a major new office, retail and public‑realm destination within Sydney’s western CBD waterfront.

 

Source: The Urban Developer

 

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