Olympic Park Metro Tower Redesign to Add 191 Apartments

Olympic Park Metro Tower Redesign to Add 191 Apartments

August 12, 2025

Aerial render of Sydney Olympic Park showing proposed high-rise residential towers above the future metro station, surrounded by existing and planned buildings.

An amended State Significant Development Application (SSDA) is on exhibition to transform Building 1 above Sydney Olympic Park’s new metro station from an office tower into apartments, aligning the project with NSW Government housing priorities.

Introduction

Sydney Metro has lodged an Amending Concept SSDA for Building 1 at 5–7 Figtree Drive, Sydney Olympic Park, within the Parramatta Local Government Area. The application seeks to modify the approved concept plan for the Sydney Olympic Park Over and Adjacent Station Development (SSD-35283699). The proposal is on exhibition from 8 August to 4 September 2025.

The site sits within the Central Precinct of the Sydney Olympic Park Master Plan 2030 (Interim Metro Review). It is directly above the new Sydney Olympic Park Metro Station, which is under construction as part of Sydney Metro West. The precinct is planned for high-density, mixed-use development with towers of 20 to 45 storeys.

The Proposed Changes

The amended application converts Building 1 from a commercial tower to a residential one, creating 22,875 square metres of residential gross floor area. As a result, the site would deliver an additional 191 dwellings, bringing the total yield across all buildings to about 507 apartments. Commercial space would decrease from 27,841 square metres to 1,183 square metres, while retail space within the podium would increase from 555 to 791 square metres.

In addition, the building’s height would rise from 21 storeys (RL 122.00) to 34 storeys (RL 151.00). The floor plates would also be narrowed to suit residential layouts. However, no changes are planned for the approved envelopes, uses, or parking for Buildings 2 and 3. The 358 car spaces in the basement under those buildings will continue to serve the entire site.

From Commercial Tower to Housing: The Policy Shift

When Building 1 was approved in August 2024, it was planned as a 21-storey commercial tower above a podium with retail and other non-station uses. Since then, NSW Government policy has shifted strongly towards increasing housing supply in infrastructure-rich locations. Consequently, Sydney Metro reviewed the approved scheme.

The National Housing Accord sets a target of 1.2 million well-located homes nationally over five years from mid-2024. NSW has committed to delivering 377,000 of these, with the City of Parramatta allocated 19,500 new dwellings by 2029.

Furthermore, the Sydney Metro Review 2023 recommended maximising housing yield at new Metro West precincts, identifying Sydney Olympic Park as a key location for “catalytic” land use change. Market conditions have also changed, with demand for apartments near public transport outpacing the demand for large-scale office space.

This proposal responds to these factors by changing Building 1 from commercial to residential use. In doing so, it will deliver an additional 191 dwellings and raise the total residential yield across Buildings 1–3 from approximately 316 to 507 apartments.

Artist impression by Woods Bagot

Integration with Sydney Olympic Park Metro Station

The podium for Building 1 is being delivered under Sydney Metro West’s Stage 3 Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI) approval. It will integrate with the metro station concourse, which will provide active frontages and direct connections to the public domain.

Building 1 will stand alongside Buildings 2 and 3, which are approved as mixed-use residential towers above podium retail and commercial uses. Together, the three buildings will contribute to a master-planned precinct designed to activate the Sydney Olympic Park town centre and support public transport patronage.

Economic and Social Outcomes

The change to residential use will boost the local population and, in turn, increase retail spending that supports local businesses. The podium’s commercial and retail spaces will maintain employment opportunities, while construction will generate full-time jobs.

In addition, the development supports the “30-minute city” concept by placing new housing directly above a major public transport node. This location will allow residents to reach key centres within half an hour by metro, walking, or cycling.

Community Consultation

Sydney Metro has engaged with the community and stakeholders on Sydney Metro West since 2017. Consultation for the original Concept SSDA and earlier Master Plan revisions informed the approved scheme. Feedback from government agencies and the market has now influenced the decision to change Building 1’s land use.

The amended proposal is on public exhibition, providing an opportunity for further community input before assessment.