Plans for a revitalised Pitt Street precinct featuring two skyscrapers, each standing over 300m tall, have taken a major step forward, with the City of Sydney Council endorsing proposed changes to planning rules at 56-60 Pitt Street.

The amendments will raise the site's maximum building height to 310m and allow for increased floor space, paving the way for a 70-storey, next-generation commercial building. The Council’s decision coincides with a proposal for another tower exceeding 300m on a neighbouring site, which is being finalised ahead of public consultation. Located at 1-25 O’Connell Street, the Lendlease-led build proposes a 319m, 71-storey tower offering 150,000sqm of office space, a pedestrian through-site connection, a shared logistics hub for local businesses, and the adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.

Both developments sit within Central Sydney’s northern tower cluster – an area favoured by the financial, legal, tech, and property sectors.

Observing that the new skyscraper would promote employment and economic opportunities in the city, Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore says, “Central Sydney continues to be Australia's leading economic centre for business investment and a preferred location for workers, residents and visitors. This project will provide more office space, a high-quality design and outstanding public places, in the form of a new public plaza and a pedestrian through-site link connecting Pitt Street to Spring and Gresham streets.”

The Pitt Street proposal also aligns with the broader vision set out in the City’s Central Sydney planning strategy. Considered the most significant planning review in over four decades, it guides future height and floor space growth across the city centre.

“If we want Sydney to maintain its status as a global city and economic powerhouse, it’s vital that we safeguard economic floor space whilst allowing residential development to continue in the city centre,” the Lord Mayor notes.

The strategy takes a balanced approach to the city’s growth, accommodating taller buildings while prioritising solar access into key public spaces such as Hyde Park, Wynyard Park and the Royal Botanic Garden.

“It was the product of three years of deep research by City staff, who worked block by block, carefully examining the way our city works and where sunlight falls,” the Lord Mayor elaborates.

“We can build tall towers in the city, we can see our skyline rise with iconic, sustainable buildings, when we follow deep, evidence-based work that considers the current and future needs of our city.

“These buildings will provide future workplaces that are in line with what business expects and that are essential for Sydney as a globally competitive city."

Image: Aerial view of Sydney CBD 2024 | Image Credit: City of Sydney | Lucinda Varney

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