06 March 2014
The release of proposed planning amendments that increase height and floor space to key precincts in Newcastle is good news says the Urban Taskforce.
“The increase in the floor space ratio for the University of Newcastle precinct from 4:1 to 5:1 will help the viability of securing significant university accommodation in the city centre” says Urban Taskforce CEO Chris Johnson. “The increase of heights up to 65m in select locations will also support the viability of the East End precinct redevelopment.”
“The final route of the light rail will be very critical to the successful revitalisation of the University precinct and the East End precinct. There seems to be a perfect alignment happening in Newcastle where the sale of the port can fund infrastructure like the light rail and that can stimulate the development of a university and retail precinct.”
“The more the light rail interacts with the city the better and this probably supports the Hunter Street option. With the redevelopment of the University Precinct and the GPT, UrbanGrowth East End precinct comes the opportunity to incorporate the light rail as a core element.”
