$18M Western Sydney rooftop bar scrapped
An $18m upgrade to a major western Sydney shopping hub, which included a rooftop bar has been scrapped by developers
Plans for the upgrade at Westfield’s Penrith Plaza were lodged by GPT and Scentre Group, which owns and operates 42 Westfields in April 2023.
Plans were approved by Penrith City Council and included five new restaurants across three levels and two new Hoyts ‘LUX’ auditoriums.
The plans were abandoned following the approval of a modified development application, which significantly alters the centre's planned entertainment precinct, initially touted to bolster the local night-time economy.
Three of the five venues were set to join existing offerings on Riley Street, and a further two, including a rooftop bar and restaurant, were planned for the upper levels. However, the revision, lodged in December 2024 and approved on March 4, 2025, has removed the entire third floor from the project.
The approved modification sees an expansion of the second-level floor space, along with minor architectural and internal layout adjustments. Despite the removal of the rooftop component, development documents indicate no change in the overall estimated project costs.
The initial renovations were positioned as a key driver in establishing Westfield Penrith as the region's "leading entertainment and leisure precinct," promising a boost to the night-time economy through "diverse entertainment and leisure offerings." The removal of the rooftop venue has raised questions about the impact on these ambitions.
The approved changes are a significant shift from the original vision, with locals now waiting for the completion of the revised project and the impact it has on Penrith's entertainment landscape.
Jonathan Jackson, 13th March 2025
