11-06-2025
$17 million plans in the works for central Darby Street site
A central Darby Street site could be transformed into a mixed-use residential development as part of new $17 million plans.
A development application has been lodged with Newcastle council for a four-storey residential building with 29 units and two commercial spaces at 113-125 Darby Street.
The site includes the former Darby Raj space, cafe Sanctum, WIA Store, retail shop Guanabana and bar 5 Sawyers as well as an open-air car park.
Documents lodged with the application said as approximately half of the site was occupied by the 22-space open air car park, the "highest and best use of the site is not being achieved".
Parking is an issue for Darby Street traders, which has been exacerbated by the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery and its construction workers taking up spaces.
The newly lodged proposal includes a 43 space basement car park consisting of 37 residential spaces and six commercial parks.
The main vehicle entrance would be on Railway Street leading to the basement level carpark, and a one-way service lane is also proposed connecting to both Railway and Darby streets.
Numerous plans have been floated for the site previously. The most recent, lodged in 2018, was also for a four storey mixed-use development with 29 units, but was withdrawn in 2020.
That proposal drew dozens of objections due to the scale of the development and impacts on the narrow Railway Street.
The height of the previous proposal was 14.986 metres, which exceeded the 14 metre allowed height for the site.
The highest point of the new proposal is 13.924 metres above the natural ground level, according to planning documents. Two lift shaft overruns and a small section of roof exceed the building limit, but are considered to be exempt from inclusion in building height.
The development design is separated into two separate buildings. Each four-storey building would front either Darby Street or Railway Street, with a central courtyard.
The site is within the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area, but doesn't include any heritage items.
The development proposal comes amid a renewal of several key Darby Street sites, including the recently completed remodel of The Del and ongoing transformation of the former Finnegans Hotel.
A central Darby Street site could be transformed into a mixed-use residential development as part of new $17 million plans.
A development application has been lodged with Newcastle council for a four-storey residential building with 29 units and two commercial spaces at 113-125 Darby Street.
The site includes the former Darby Raj space, cafe Sanctum, WIA Store, retail shop Guanabana and bar 5 Sawyers as well as an open-air car park.
Documents lodged with the application said as approximately half of the site was occupied by the 22-space open air car park, the "highest and best use of the site is not being achieved".
Parking is an issue for Darby Street traders, which has been exacerbated by the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery and its construction workers taking up spaces.
The newly lodged proposal includes a 43 space basement car park consisting of 37 residential spaces and six commercial parks.
The main vehicle entrance would be on Railway Street leading to the basement level carpark, and a one-way service lane is also proposed connecting to both Railway and Darby streets.
Numerous plans have been floated for the site previously. The most recent, lodged in 2018, was also for a four storey mixed-use development with 29 units, but was withdrawn in 2020.
That proposal drew dozens of objections due to the scale of the development and impacts on the narrow Railway Street.
The height of the previous proposal was 14.986 metres, which exceeded the 14 metre allowed height for the site.
The highest point of the new proposal is 13.924 metres above the natural ground level, according to planning documents. Two lift shaft overruns and a small section of roof exceed the building limit, but are considered to be exempt from inclusion in building height.
The development design is separated into two separate buildings. Each four-storey building would front either Darby Street or Railway Street, with a central courtyard.
The site is within the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area, but doesn't include any heritage items.
The development proposal comes amid a renewal of several key Darby Street sites, including the recently completed remodel of The Del and ongoing transformation of the former Finnegans Hotel.
A central Darby Street site could be transformed into a mixed-use residential development as part of new $17 million plans.
A development application has been lodged with Newcastle council for a four-storey residential building with 29 units and two commercial spaces at 113-125 Darby Street.
The site includes the former Darby Raj space, cafe Sanctum, WIA Store, retail shop Guanabana and bar 5 Sawyers as well as an open-air car park.
Documents lodged with the application said as approximately half of the site was occupied by the 22-space open air car park, the "highest and best use of the site is not being achieved".
Parking is an issue for Darby Street traders, which has been exacerbated by the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery and its construction workers taking up spaces.
The newly lodged proposal includes a 43 space basement car park consisting of 37 residential spaces and six commercial parks.
The main vehicle entrance would be on Railway Street leading to the basement level carpark, and a one-way service lane is also proposed connecting to both Railway and Darby streets.
Numerous plans have been floated for the site previously. The most recent, lodged in 2018, was also for a four storey mixed-use development with 29 units, but was withdrawn in 2020.
That proposal drew dozens of objections due to the scale of the development and impacts on the narrow Railway Street.
The height of the previous proposal was 14.986 metres, which exceeded the 14 metre allowed height for the site.
The highest point of the new proposal is 13.924 metres above the natural ground level, according to planning documents. Two lift shaft overruns and a small section of roof exceed the building limit, but are considered to be exempt from inclusion in building height.
The development design is separated into two separate buildings. Each four-storey building would front either Darby Street or Railway Street, with a central courtyard.
The site is within the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area, but doesn't include any heritage items.
The development proposal comes amid a renewal of several key Darby Street sites, including the recently completed remodel of The Del and ongoing transformation of the former Finnegans Hotel.
A central Darby Street site could be transformed into a mixed-use residential development as part of new $17 million plans.
A development application has been lodged with Newcastle council for a four-storey residential building with 29 units and two commercial spaces at 113-125 Darby Street.
The site includes the former Darby Raj space, cafe Sanctum, WIA Store, retail shop Guanabana and bar 5 Sawyers as well as an open-air car park.
Documents lodged with the application said as approximately half of the site was occupied by the 22-space open air car park, the "highest and best use of the site is not being achieved".
Parking is an issue for Darby Street traders, which has been exacerbated by the expansion of the Newcastle Art Gallery and its construction workers taking up spaces.
The newly lodged proposal includes a 43 space basement car park consisting of 37 residential spaces and six commercial parks.
The main vehicle entrance would be on Railway Street leading to the basement level carpark, and a one-way service lane is also proposed connecting to both Railway and Darby streets.
Numerous plans have been floated for the site previously. The most recent, lodged in 2018, was also for a four storey mixed-use development with 29 units, but was withdrawn in 2020.
That proposal drew dozens of objections due to the scale of the development and impacts on the narrow Railway Street.
The height of the previous proposal was 14.986 metres, which exceeded the 14 metre allowed height for the site.
The highest point of the new proposal is 13.924 metres above the natural ground level, according to planning documents. Two lift shaft overruns and a small section of roof exceed the building limit, but are considered to be exempt from inclusion in building height.
The development design is separated into two separate buildings. Each four-storey building would front either Darby Street or Railway Street, with a central courtyard.
The site is within the Cooks Hill Heritage Conservation Area, but doesn't include any heritage items.
The development proposal comes amid a renewal of several key Darby Street sites, including the recently completed remodel of The Del and ongoing transformation of the former Finnegans Hotel.
