WATERLOO METRO PRECINCT PLANS ON DISPLAY

Originally approved in 2019 for a mix of office and residential buildings, the northern precinct was later amended in 2021 to accommodate a large commercial office tower. However, as demand for city-fringe office space fell post-pandemic, plans for the precinct were reconsidered. The proposed buildings will be constructed above a four-storey podium that wraps around the Metro station. Designed by Woods Bagot, the towers are setback above the podium to reduce visual bulk and maintain solar access at street level. The design references Waterloo’s industrial past, using brick textures and articulated façades to create a contextual yet contemporary identity. The towers aim to provide a “landmark urban form” without dominating surrounding streetscapes.

A key feature of the proposal is a landscaped pedestrian connection running north–south through the site. This open-air laneway, dubbed Raglan Walk, connects Raglan Street to the central precinct and enhances permeability across the broader WMQ site. The development also proposes extensive public domain upgrades including new street tree plantings, widened footpaths, and building setbacks to increase light penetration and visual openness at ground level. Street-level activation will be delivered via retail frontages along Cope and Raglan streets, creating a more walkable, mixed-use environment integrated with the station.

The vibrant new WMQ will be a landmark precinct located between Botany Road and Cope Street with Wellington Street to the south and Raglan Street to the north. On the doorstep of the world-class metro system, WMQ will have easy access to employment hubs in the CBD, North Sydney, Barangaroo and Macquarie Park and convenient travel to Sydney’s key destinations just minutes away. The Waterloo integrated station development includes new residential apartments, offices, retail, community facilities and public spaces. Placemaking, landscaping and public art will combine to give the WMQ its own distinctive identity, proudly capturing the area’s past and present.

The community will benefit from the changes to the local area with access to a range of job opportunities, shops, cafes, community facilities and a welcoming and engaging plaza – all with easy access to the Waterloo metro station. Public domain upgrades and wider footpaths on Botany Road will contribute to a pedestrian friendly neighbourhood. The central building will have public thoroughfares on both sides with easy connections to bus services on Botany Road and the metro station. Grit Lane to the north will be an active open-air laneway with plans for licenced premises. Church Square to the south will provide space to appreciate the heritage church while adding to the ambience of the retail premises on the ground level.

The application is now on public exhibition. After submissions close, the applicant must respond to key issues raised. A final decision will then be made by the department. If approved, this would mark a major step in the transformation of Waterloo Metro Quarter into a dense, transit-oriented urban precinct.