Goodman Gains Approval for $845m Artarmon Data Centre

Goodman Gains Approval for $845m Artarmon Data Centre

April 13, 2025

Photorealistic render of a modern data centre in Artarmon with two contrasting façade styles, landscaped foreground, and people walking along the street.

Goodman Property Services (Aust.) Pty Ltd has received approval for a State Significant Development (SSD) application to construct and operate a large-scale data centre at 2–8 Lanceley Place and 14 Campbell Street, Artarmon. The $845.85 million facility will operate 24 hours a day and contribute to the growing cluster of technology infrastructure in Sydney’s north.

Background of the Proposal

The 1.4-hectare site was previously occupied by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) studios until early 2023. Following the site’s sale in 2021 and ABC’s departure, Goodman identified the location as a strategic opportunity for redevelopment.

The site lies within the Artarmon Industrial Area, zoned E4 General Industrial under the Willoughby Local Environmental Plan 2012. It is surrounded by infrastructure such as the Pacific Highway, Royal North Shore Hospital, and Gore Hill Technology Park, which has recently welcomed new data centres and energy infrastructure.

This context, along with proximity to utilities and other industrial users, supports the transition of the area into a high-tech employment hub.

Proposal Overview

The approved development comprises construction and operation of a hyperscale data centre supported by ancillary office space and services infrastructure. Designed for 80 megavolt amperes (MVA) of power, the facility qualifies as State Significant Development under Clause 25 of Schedule 1 of the Planning Systems SEPP 2021.

Key elements include:

A six-storey data centre building reaching 51.5 metres in height
Floor space ratio (FSR) of 1.91:1 across the site
33 car parking spaces and 10 bicycle spaces
Three Ausgrid electricity feeders and power transformers
Cooling infrastructure, including 16 cooling towers and five air conditioning units
Generator backup systems with acoustic treatments
Associated landscaping, site access works, and stormwater mitigation

No residential component is proposed. The development supports around 669 construction jobs and 30 operational positions in the data and technology sectors.

Artist impression by HDR

Design

The approved built form adopts a rectilinear massing with strong vertical articulation, responding to the site’s industrial setting. In response to stakeholder feedback, Goodman introduced refinements to improve façade modulation, pedestrian accessibility, and landscaping outcomes.

Changes made during the assessment process include:

Introduction of four vertical louvres and nibs on the eastern façade
Reduction in car parking spaces from 41 to 33 to allow for six additional trees
Relocation of bicycle parking to enhance access and visibility
A flood wall along the northwest boundary to reduce stormwater intrusion from Campbell Street
40 dBa silencers added to generators to minimise noise

Landscaping includes three new green spaces across the site totalling 1,715 square metres, with deep soil zones and buffer planting to soften the built form and reduce the urban heat island effect.

Upgrades to public kerb ramps and pedestrian access points support a shared pathway recently installed along Broadcast Way.

Planning Framework & Compliance

The proposal was assessed under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 as a State Significant Development. The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) became the consent authority following Willoughby Council’s initial objection.

Although the proposal exceeded the site’s 1.5:1 FSR control under the Willoughby LEP, the applicant submitted a Clause 4.6 Variation Request. This was supported by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI), which found the design acceptable within the surrounding industrial context.

The development aligns with the strategic objectives of:

Greater Sydney Region Plan: A Metropolis of Three Cities
North District Plan
Willoughby Local Strategic Planning Statement 2020
Willoughby Industrial Lands Strategy 2036
Better Placed (GANSW)

The use is permissible with consent in the E4 General Industrial zone and is consistent with the Willoughby DCP 2022. A BDAR waiver confirmed no significant biodiversity impacts, and TfNSW concurrence was sought for traffic-generating development.

Submissions and Community Feedback

The SSD application was publicly exhibited from 3 July to 30 July 2024. Eleven submissions were received in total, including:

4 public submissions (3 objections, 1 comment)
Objections from Willoughby City Council and Lane Cove Council
Feedback from government agencies including Ausgrid, Heritage NSW, and Fire and Rescue NSW

Key issues raised included:

Bulk and scale of the development
Visual and amenity impacts
Storage of diesel fuel onsite
Traffic, stormwater and flood risk
Landscaping and need for additional public open space

In response, Goodman prepared a Submissions Report and amended the design to address the concerns raised. Changes included improved façade articulation, increased tree planting, noise mitigation, flood protection works, and reduced parking volumes. Council subsequently withdrew its objection in November 2024.

Assessment and Reasons for Approval

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure completed its assessment in early 2025 and recommended approval subject to conditions.

Key reasons cited for approval include:

Consistency with local and regional strategic planning objectives
Appropriate land use within an industrial precinct
Justified FSR variation supported by strong urban design outcomes
Management of environmental impacts including flooding, noise, and air quality
Responsiveness to public and agency feedback through amended design

The IPC found the impacts could be appropriately mitigated and concluded the development would deliver public benefits through employment, technology infrastructure, and activation of an underutilised site.