The NSW Department of Planning has approved a 51-storey and a 58-storey commercial tower above the future Sydney Metro West Hunter Street station, marking the largest over-station development in the Sydney CBD.
The City Desk is a contributing writer covering city and public affairs for The Sydney Times.
The NSW Department of Planning has approved a 51-storey and a 58-storey commercial tower above the future Sydney Metro West Hunter Street station, marking the largest over-station development in the Sydney CBD. The approval follows the completion of tunnel boring between The Bays and Hunter Street, with the joint venture of John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella progressing demobilisation and structural works at the Hunter Street station box.
The 51-storey tower is planned for the corner of Hunter and George streets, while the 58-storey tower is proposed for the corner of Hunter, O’Connell and Bligh streets. The towers will sit directly above the underground metro station, which will sit approximately 45 metres below ground with entrances on Bligh, O’Connell and George streets. The station box includes a crossover cavern large enough to store a 120-metre-long driverless train.
The Hunter Street station box is one of the most technically challenging components of the Sydney Metro West line. The station will include two island platforms, four tracks, and a cross-platform interchange allowing eastbound services to reverse direction during peak periods or in an emergency. The crossover cavern is designed to accommodate the full length of a driverless metro train, allowing for flexible service patterns and emergency recovery.
The joint venture of John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella is responsible for the Bays to CBD package, which covers the twin tunnels between The Bays and Hunter Street, station boxes at The Bays and Hunter Street, and the crossover cavern at Hunter Street. Internal project documents have previously estimated the Hunter Street station cost at about $640 million, making it one of the most expensive stations on the route.
The station will be served by three street-level entrances, with the main entrance on Bligh Street and secondary entrances on O’Connell and George streets. The entrances are designed to integrate with the existing pedestrian network, with direct connections to Martin Place, Wynyard, and the Barangaroo precinct. The station will also include a bus interchange on Hunter Street, with services connecting to the Northern Beaches, North Shore and Inner West.
The two towers above Hunter Street station will deliver approximately 120,000 square metres of commercial floor space, with the 51-storey tower targeting premium office tenants and the 58-storey tower targeting technology and financial services companies. The towers will include ground-floor retail, basement car parking, and a public plaza on Hunter Street.
The development is part of the NSW Government’s broader strategy to increase density around transport hubs, with the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces having identified the Hunter Street precinct as a priority growth area. The over-station development is expected to support approximately 5,000 workers when complete, with the metro line providing direct access to Parramatta, Westmead and the Bays Precinct.
The towers are designed to achieve a minimum 5-star Green Star rating, with energy-efficient glazing, rainwater harvesting, and a district cooling system connected to the Sydney Metro West tunnel cooling infrastructure. The public plaza will include seating, landscaping, and a dedicated bike parking facility with 200 spaces.
The Hunter Street station site is located in the heart of the Sydney CBD, with construction activities impacting nearby businesses and residents. The joint venture publishes weekly Hunter Street email updates for residents and businesses, with a 24-hour community information line on 1800 612 173. Email contact is available via MetroTunnelsJCGJV@transport.nsw.gov.au.
Standard construction hours remain 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 6pm on Saturdays, with above-ground out-of-hours work permitted between 6pm and 7am Monday to Saturday. The joint venture manages temporary road, lane and footpath closures, with advance notice provided to affected properties.
The completion of tunnelling does not end construction disruption in the CBD. The Hunter Street site will continue 24-hour tunnelling support activities, deliveries, and out-of-hours work through the demobilisation phase. The joint venture is required to maintain ground movement monitoring for heritage buildings and active utilities throughout the demobilisation period.
The NSW Government is delivering Sydney Metro West through Transport for NSW, with a 2032 opening target for the full line between Parramatta and the CBD.
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