First look: Conquest targets higher density at Castlecrag shopping centre site

Private equity real estate firm Conquest is upsizing plans for its recently acquired Quadrangle Shopping Centre in Sydney’s Castlecrag.

Conquest purchased the site for just shy of $70 million last year, with existing plans in place for a mixed-use residential and retail precinct comprising 38 luxury apartments.

Those plans have now been significantly expanded, with the developer lodging a State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority for 150 apartments across two 11-storey buildings. The apartments will sit above a four-storey podium, incorporating specialty retail tenancies and five levels of basement car parking, on the 5,166 sqm site at 100 Edinburgh Road.

fjcstudio has designed the shop-top housing development, which it says will “deliver a more efficient and future-focused design outcome.”

“The site occupies a strategically significant position within the Castlecrag Local Centre, situated along Edinburgh Road and surrounded by established low-density residential areas and natural bushland,” the studio said.

“The proposal responds to this context through a carefully considered design that integrates built form, landscape, and public domain improvements, while respecting the suburb’s strong landscape and heritage identity.”

The architects say the increased height and density are consistent with the NSW Housing SEPP objectives, supporting greater housing diversity and affordability while achieving high standards of architectural and environmental performance.

The proposal also references the draft Willoughby Local Centres Strategy 2036, which aims to promote a network of thriving, attractive and distinctive village centres across the local government area.

“The current trend shows that Castlecrag’s population is set to increase significantly over the coming years. The site falls within the study area for Castlecrag and is in an ideal location for higher density to meet anticipated urban strategy targets at both a state and local level. Aligning with metropolitan strategies, the proposed development will contribute to a more walkable local centre and help meet demand for an additional 1,500 dwellings across Willoughby’s local centres by 2036.”

Of the roughly 1,000 homes in Castlecrag, only around 11 are apartments, according to the latest ABS Census data.

Conquest has been increasingly active in the development space in recent years. The group acquired the Eastlakes Shopping Centre redevelopment, where it plans to deliver more than 1,000 apartments above a new retail precinct, and has also lodged a $900 million State Significant Development Application for a mixed-use precinct in Stanmore.