Reach for the sky

The promise of a new transport interchange at Wickham and light rail for the city centre continues to attract investment and new jobs to Newcastle. The latest project to be announced is the $13 million, 15-storey Aero Apartments in the West End at 766-770 Hunter Street.

The concentration of new development along the proposed light rail route highlights a strong demand for higher-density urban living and follows international trends.

In Texas for example, more than $5.3 billion in private-capital development projects have been built, are under construction, or are planned near Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s light rail stations since the debut of DART Rail in 1996. The benefits are not only felt by the transit operator through increased ridership, but also by local governments that receive increased property tax revenues associated with development.

And the benefits in terms of improved liveability have been stunning, with the premium generated by transit-oriented development leading to higher quality public amenity. Now it seems that trend has arrived in Newcastle.

The plans which have been unveiled for Aero point to a new standard in Newcastle’s built environment. Comprising 62 apartments and two commercial suites at ground level, prominent architectural firm Fender Katsalidis is responsible for the design. Their recent projects include the MONA museum and pavilions in Hobart, Eureka Tower in Melbourne and Nishi building in Canberra’s NewActon precinct, which recently won an international building of the year award.

Under the proposal lodged with the council, a thinner 11-storey tower will stand on a four-storey podium surrounded by gardens. The sculptural design will include sustainable facade plantings and bring world class architectural design to the West End’s revitalisation.