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Chinese developer Heworth has rejigged its plans for the redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club in the Sydney suburb of Rozelle, reducing the number of apartments so the project can include more two- and three-bedroom units.
The long-abandoned site has been in disrepair since the club closed more than a 12 years ago, and was ripped apart by a fire in May this year.
Heworth has announced it plans to start building the mixed-use project known as Rozelle Village - including a new town square, public plaza and retail precinct - by mid-2023, with completion due in 2025.
The developer has lodged amendments to its approved development application for three towers on the prominent corner site of Victoria Road, Darling and Waterloo Streets.
The group is seeking to alter the original design scheme with changes to the retail plaza and apartment designs, reducing the number of flats from 167 to 147 so they can be larger.
Heworth has worked closely with architecture firm Scott Carver on improving the overall design scheme to ensure the final development will become a welcomed new addition for the local community.
The commercial area will include a new Wests Ashfield Leagues Club, which amalgamated with the former Balmain Tigers Leagues Club.
Heworth head of property Chris Walsh said the amendments submitted to the Inner West Council sought to make some significant improvements to the overall design scheme which will benefit the local community as well as residents.
"A key focus of our development is a new Town Square, public plaza and major retail and hospitality podium connected by a series of laneways. It’s going to significantly contribute to Rozelle and become a major community meeting place and destination," he said.
"We are also seeking to change the apartment mix increasing the number of two and three bedroom apartments as we feel the larger size floor plates and premium interior architecture, fixtures and fittings, will appeal to discerning local owner-occupiers, particularly downsizers."
An on-site sales office will include a display apartment and full detail on the retail offering. Interested parties will be able to inspect this in early 2023, prior to sales commencing.
Rozelle Village’s retail precinct is expected to be anchored by a major supermarket, providing greatly increased convenience to the local area.
Wests Ashfield chief executive officer Simon Cook said the Club was excited that plans had progressed on the redevelopment of the site and he was pleased the amendments by Heworth sought to improve the current design scheme.
"The redevelopment of the former Balmain Leagues Club has been years in the making. It's highly anticipated by the Club members and they are very much looking forward to the delivery of a new state of the art facility," he said.
Heworth was unable to disclose the expected capital expenditure for the project, but estimates a gross realisation value of $500 million.
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