Plans for a $475 million tower beside the Newcastle Interchange are now on public exhibition.
And, the proposed Wickham development is set to become one of the city’s tallest buildings.
Urban Property Group has lodged plans for the 43-storey mixed-use project at 10 Dangar Street.
The former Bowline site has remained an open excavation since the previous development collapsed in 2024.
The proposal includes 245 apartments, with 42 set aside as affordable housing for at least 15 years.
The unit mix includes one, two, three and four-bedroom dwellings.
The development would also include 99 co-living apartments and 171 hotel rooms.
Ground floor retail, restaurants, bars and landscaped public spaces are included in the plans.
A public plaza and pedestrian links connecting Dangar Street to the Newcastle Interchange are also proposed, along with three basement levels providing 215 car parking spaces.
The Development Application (DA) seeks to increase the site’s maximum building height from 60 metres to 152 metres and lifting the floor space ratio to 14.4:1.
The Urban Design Report states an existing approval for the site allows for a 17-storey residential tower with 118 apartments and 195 parking spaces.
The approved scheme does not include affordable housing or co-living accommodation.
The documents also argue the approved design offers limited public domain benefits for such a prominent gateway site beside the interchange precinct.
If approved, the cylindrical tower is likely to become one of Newcastle’s tallest buildings with upper levels expected to feature views stretching the coastline.
The proposed height would place it well above several nearby developments already approved or under construction around Wickham and Newcastle West.
These include the 31-storey Hunter River Dairy Farmers redevelopment at 924 Hunter Street and Doma Group’s 32-storey Store development at 854 Hunter Street.
The proposal is being assessed through the State Significant Development pathway after being supported by the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority last year.
If approved, construction is expected to begin in mid-2027 and finish by mid-2029.
The proposal is on public exhibition through the NSW Planning Portal until 9 June.
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