Tall & Urban News

Rezoning approval from the NSW Government in Australia for the redevelopment of Warrawong Plaza in Wollongong has been given, increasing the maximum building height from eight stories to 22 stories, and paving the way for a mixed-use precinct featuring 1,300 new homes and a revitalized shopping center.

Located at 43 to 65 Cowper Street, the seven-hectare site will include 12 residential towers ranging from five to 22 stories. The project will maintain the triple supermarket anchored shopping center at ground level. New housing units will feature varied apartment configurations to meet the needs of the Illawarra community.  Designs will focus on solar access, natural ventilation, and privacy. At least 15 percent of the residential floor space in the project will be allocated to affordable housing for 15 years, ensuring these units are distributed evenly throughout the development.

A new bus interchange will be added, following community consultation, along with 6,500 square meters of publicly accessible open space, including a central plaza known as the "Green Heart" and new pedestrian connections to Cowper Street and Northcliffe Drive. Sustainability measures will require 35 percent canopy cover in open spaces and an Environmentally Sustainable Design Strategy to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Elanor Investors Group, which acquired Warrawong Plaza in 2021, expects the redevelopment to create 2,250 ongoing jobs and 300 construction jobs. The first homes could be completed by 2028, with construction carried out in stages to allow Warrawong Plaza to continue operating.

The project aligns with the NSW Government’s broader housing strategy, which focuses on increasing supply in areas with existing infrastructure and amenities. 

Learn more at The Urban Developer