Showgrounds East in Sydney’s Hills District gets green light

A new project in Sydney’s Hills District including five residential buildings and 3,500sqm of public open space has been approved.

The project features 873 new dwellings and is designed by award-winning Sydney architecture and design practices TURNER and GroupGSA for developer Deicorp.

The Department of Planning and Environment has approved the development that will form part of the Hills Showground Station Precinct that will transform the area into a vibrant residential town centre.

According to GroupGSA Director Lisa-Maree Carrigan, The Hills Showground Precinct East emphasises sustainability to enhance its environmental, social, and economic value, aiming to become a green neighbourhood with excellent amenities. 

“It provides a strong connection to both the landscape and historic setting of the Castle Hills Showgrounds, with designing with Country bringing together all buildings and communal spaces through the vibrant public realm,” she says.

“The buildings form a backdrop to the verdant Showgrounds above the tree line, affording the apartments expansive views over the district and towards the CBD. This natural setting is enhanced through substantial balconies, rooftop gardens and parks, with communal rooms and grand lobbies providing areas for socialisation and community. 

“Located directly adjacent to the Metro, the apartments have been designed to provide generous outdoor living spaces and provide an enviable lifestyle with tremendous convenience.”

Next to Deicorp’s now under construction 430-unit Hills Showground Village, the Precinct East site will comprise of two buildings designed by TURNER, three designed by GroupGSA and includes landscaped courtyards, a public park and communal outdoor recreational space including a playground, barbeque area and outdoor seating.

Deicorp was chosen by Landcom and Sydney Metro to develop both sites, with the Precinct East site delivering 136 one bedroom, 527 two bedroom and 210 three-bedroom dwellings.

“The design of Showgrounds Precinct East is deeply connected to its natural context, with the adjacent parkland and connection to open spaces shaping the design philosophy from the outset,” says TURNER Director James McCarthy.

“A key move was integrating the central landscaped courtyards with the adjacent streets and parks. Entry lobbies, community rooms for residents, and common corridors were arranged to allow uninterrupted view lines across the site.”

From the street, glimpses into the lush green courtyards create a sense of intrigue, while within the heart of the community, residents can still see back into the Castle Hill Showgrounds or the new eastern park.

“The apartment planning prioritises views towards the east and north, offering direct outlooks over the Castlehill Showgrounds. Apartments have the enviable position of sitting up in the tree canopy, with an outlook that can’t be built out,” says McCarthy.

According to Deicorp’s Founder Fouad Deiri, this approval will allow to start construction on a range of beautifully designed, conveniently located apartments and create another vibrant, walkable and well-connected community.

“These new homes will provide their residents with a seamless connection to jobs and services along Metro North West, and the new Hills Showground Village retail precinct currently under construction,” says Deiri.

“We look forward to deliver this much-needed housing that adds to our significant pipeline of projects along the Metro line, which includes Tallawong Village, Hills Showground Village, and The Five Ways in Crows Nest which recently was granted development approval.

“Importantly, the East Showgrounds development will include 44 affordable housing apartments for key workers on the doorstep of Sydney’s Metro rail line.”

Images: Showgrounds East by TURNER / supplied