Urban Digest

A $155 million HDA housing proposal for a 45-storey residential flat building at 51-55 Archer Street, Chatswood, has entered public exhibition. The State Significant Development application covers a single tower with 114 dwellings, including 51 affordable housing units—representing 25% of the total—proposed to be managed by a registered community housing provider for 15 years.

The project includes a gross floor area of 14,931 sqm on a 1,767 sqm site, with shared amenities such as a swimming pool, communal open space, basement car parking, and public domain works. The application identifies an FSR of 8.45:1 and estimates 150 construction jobs.

The site is zoned MU1 Mixed Use under the Willoughby LEP 2012, where residential flat buildings are currently prohibited. The proposal seeks to add residential flat building as an additional permitted use for the site, alongside requests to increase the maximum FSR and building height, and to remove requirements for active street frontage and minimum non-residential floor space.

An alternative design excellence strategy has been endorsed, following two design review sessions with the Design Review Panel. Utility and services augmentation is also proposed as required.

For more information, search the application number (SSD-94409457) on the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure’s website.