Crown Group receives approval for Sydney CBD project

Crown Group has taken the next step towards construction of a unique residential tower in the heart of Sydney's CBD with approval of its stage 1 development application received from the Central Sydney Planning Committee (CSPC) last Thursday.

Crown Group has this week begun selecting architects to be part of a design competition.

The residential apartment building is to be built at 161 – 163 Clarence Street and 304 Kent Street Sydney ("161 Clarence Street, Sydney"), a site purchased by Crown Group earlier this year.

The unique and impressive site is currently occupied by three buildings with facades on Clarence and Kent streets.

Crown Group last month invited architectural firms to submit expressions of interest by Friday December 7.

Crown Group CEO Iwan Sunito welcomed the approval of the development application.

"The approval of the stage one development application allows us to take the next step  in our exciting plans for this exceptional site in the heart of the CBD," Mr Sunito said.

"This project will provide roughly 220 additional residences for Sydney's growing population," Mr Sunito said.

To promote an international feel, Crown Group hopes to appoint a co-venture between a highly-regarded international firm and Crown Group requested architectural firms to submit a joint expression of interest.

Finalists will be announced in January 2013.

Finalists will be asked to design a building with approximately 220 residential apartments, a number of serviced apartments and ground-level retail and commercial space.

The competition will take place in early 2013.

Crown Group's CEO Iwan Sunito said the unique characteristics of the site present a rare opportunity for architectural firms to showcase their capabilities.

"With every project Crown embarks on, we seek to break the mould and set a new benchmark in design," Mr Sunito said.

"This project's first-class location - close to Wynyard Station, Sydney Harbour and everything Sydney's CBD has to offer – sets it apart from other developments and courts the world's best in architectural design and construction."

The final design will provide through-site links for pedestrian access between Skittle Lane, Clarence and Kent Streets and a public plaza.

"The design selection process will continue Crown's tradition of adopting cutting-edge architectural design for each new development," Mr Sunito said.

"The final design will draw on both local and international ideas to produce a truly globally-inspired end result."
Crown Group currently has projects under construction or in planning phase in metropolitan Sydney, including V by Crown, a 27-storey residential tower currently under construction in Parramatta.

"This is an exciting time for us; Crown Group is seeing strong, sustainable growth based on solid principles. We have proven time and time again our exceptional ability to deliver high-quality homes swiftly to the market, at an attractive price," Mr Sunito said.

Over the past decade, Crown Group has become one of the leading and most active property developers in Sydney and has delivered high quality residential developments the Sydney suburbs of Bondi, Bondi Junction, Ashfield, Epping, Eastwood, Strathfield, Five Dock, Homebush, Pennant Hills and Rhodes.

Source: Accommodation Association of Australia, 13 December 2012