Heralding the next development phase at Castle Towers in Sydney’s north-west, QIC has lodged a planning application for its newest project – The Village – a future-focused mixed-use lifestyle precinct that will transform the centre of Castle Hill.
Featuring a curated collection of fashion and lifestyle retail experiences, including dedicated precincts for apparel, beauty, healthy living and home décor, The Village will complement Castle Towers’ existing roster of more than 300 retailers to deliver the region its most engaging retail destination yet.
Set across three levels, The Village’s highly coveted retail space will see a mix of distinguished homegrown designers and sought-after international labels come together in a vertical village housing more than 70 new retail brands – presenting Hills locals with the best in seasonal fashion, tech, sporting goods, grooming essentials and more.
The application includes a 200+ room lifestyle hotel, capitalising on the site’s location between central Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Designed by globally renowned architects Woods Bagot, the proposed hotel is a response to the growing demand for business and leisure travel accommodation in the region. Capturing views across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the urban retreat will include premium event facilities and an exciting new clutch of upscale hospitality venues – creating a compelling 24/7 lifestyle destination that will pulse with life day and night.
Hotel – Old Castle Hill Road
QIC’s multi-phase plan for the site will also include a new 12-storey A-grade commercial building – the first of its type to be built in the area. Designed by globally renowned architecture firm BVN, the office tower, dubbed 2 Castle Street, will be underpinned by market-leading sustainability credentials and offer tenants the opportunity to be ensconced within The Village’s exciting lifestyle-led atmosphere.
Inspired by the local landscape, 2 Castle Street will serve as an exemplar of sustainable design – integrating nature into the workplace vernacular to enhance occupants’ wellbeing and encourage everyday moments of connection with the natural world. Set to form the centrepiece of QIC’s long-term plan for the regeneration of the Castle Hill CBD, the project will catalyse Castle Towers’ multi-year transformation into a wholly realised town centre.
“The evolution of Castle Towers into a vibrant, multifaceted urban hub is an example of how we’re bringing QIC’s town centre vision to life,” QIC Investment General Manager, Matthew James said. “This is a bold new chapter for Castle Hill, which will deliver exciting new ways to live, work and play; drawing new audiences and delivering inspiration for future generations.”
The commercial precinct proposes a sophisticated new CBD-style dining offer which is set to draw significant new audiences to the region, while the entire precinct will benefit from the convenience of Castle Towers’ direct access to the Sydney Metro line, providing unparalleled convenience for workers, visitors and residents.
Rounding out The Village’s offer, a live entertainment venue, rooftop garden and other greenery-filled public spaces will also feature, contributing to a vision that QIC believes will usher in a bold new era at Castle Hill and reimagine the role of suburban retail centres across the country.
Arrival – opposite the Metro station
While the hotel and future office building are forecast to draw more than 2,000 combined workers daily, an additional 200-plus local jobs will also be created during the construction phase, further supporting the Hills community. With QIC’s masterplan due to integrate further complementary properties and visitor experiences over time, the future of The Hills as a significant hub for industry and leisure seems assured.
“Castle Hill is home to a growing and prosperous community and is increasingly sought-after as a place to reside,” said James. “Our long-term masterplan for Castle Towers responds to this need and looks to seamlessly integrate additional sustainability-led developments over coming years that will become exemplars of urban living and design.”
