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A developer has revised plans for a large residential project in Parramatta, reducing it from 483 to 320 apartments after facing criticism over its scale and impact on nearby heritage sites. The original proposal near Gregory Place drew opposition due to concerns about overshadowing historic houses and affecting the adjacent cathedral. The new plan includes more affordable housing options and smaller building heights, with a public meeting scheduled for October to decide if it will proceed under the NSW Independent Planning Commission.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Parramatta, Australia, developers scaled back plans for a $156 million build-to-rent development after facing backlash from heritage groups and local residents since 2022. Initially proposed to include 483 apartments in place of a disused pharmaceutical factory near the Parramatta CBD, the project was criticized for its potential impact on nearby heritage sites including Elizabeth Farm, Hambledon Cottage, and Experiment Farm. Over 100 negative submissions were lodged, with concerns primarily about heritage preservation (over half) and traffic/parking issues (45%). A petition against the project collected more than 4600 signatures, reflecting community opposition to the development's form and scale near significant historical landmarks and a cathedral. Urban planners argued that the proposed apartments would address Parramatta’s “acute housing and rental crisis,” citing the site’s proximity to public transport, including within 500 meters of Parramatta train station and 300 meters from Macquarie Street light rail station.
Written for “Pharmaceutical Factory Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Owners have scaled back contentious plans for a major $156 million build-to-rent development near the Parramatta CBD more than four years after neighbours complained about the project’s scale and proximity to a cathedral and heritage-listed sites.
asserted
neighbours → scale → cathedral
The original plan lodged in 2022 proposed knocking down a disused pharmaceutical factory at Gregory Place in Harris Park for 483 apartments.
asserted
plan → lodge → apartments
At the time, it was one of Sydney’s first major build-to-rent projects after state planning laws changed in 2021.
asserted
laws → build → 2021
The project triggered backlash from heritage groups and the City of Parramatta Council over fears it would overshadow and dwarf what the National Trust described as “three of the most significant historic houses in Australia” – Elizabeth Farm, Hambledon Cottage and Experiment Farm.
asserted
Trust → trigger → Farm
Residents and community members lodged more than 100 negative submissions, and a petition against the project garnered more than 4600 signatures.
asserted
petition → lodge → signatures
More than half of the submissions raised concerns about heritage preservation, another 45 per cent mentioned traffic or parking, and 39 per cent mentioned the proposal’s form and scale.
asserted
cent → raise → form
About one-third also mentioned impacts on the neighbouring Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral.
asserted
third → mention → Cathedral
In response to the backlash, the property owner has slashed the number of apartments from 483 to 320, reduced building heights, and increased setbacks to all boundaries, concentrating taller towers further away from sensitive heritage items.
asserted
owner → slash → items
It is now proposing seven buildings of between two and eight storeys tall.
asserted
It → propose → storeys
Car parking was also reduced from 634 to 367 spots.
asserted
parking → reduce → spots
Half of the 320 apartments will be for affordable housing at 80 per cent of market rent for at least 15 years, and half for long-term renters through a build-to-rent model.
asserted
Half → build → model
Urban planners said the project would deliver much-needed homes in Parramatta, which was facing an “acute housing and rental crisis”, and pointed to the accessible location 500 metres from Parramatta train station, 650 metres from Harris Park train station, and 300 metres from Macquarie Street light rail station.
asserted
which → say → station
Pacific Planning said ongoing pressure on lower-income renters and the “intensification” of housing and rental stress in the four years since plans were first lodged had “reinforced, rather than weakened, the strategic case for well-located affordable and rental housing”.
asserted
plans → say → housing
The project has been referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission, which will decide whether the development application should be approved after a public meeting in October.
asserted
application → refer → October
The commission was formed in 2018 to decide, and provide advice on, the state’s most complex and contentious developments.
asserted
commission → form → developments
In 2019, a three-member panel killed off The Star’s $530 million plan to build a hotel and apartment tower above its Pyrmont casino.
asserted
panel → kill → casino
The commission will also provide Planning Minister Paul Scully with advice on whether the City of Sydney’s controversial $150 million Town Hall square should be a “state significant” development decided by the government instead.
asserted
square → provide → government
Pacific Planning conceded the amended plans would still change views of the heritage landscape, but said some people would always remain staunchly opposed to any development in the area.
asserted
people → concede → area
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