Car park plan approved

Soper Place plans will deliver much-needed parking plus new mixed use building

Plans to deliver Penrith an all-new car park that will blend work, leisure and play have been approved.

A $116.7 million Development Application (DA) will see the Penrith City Council owned Soper Place car park transform into a part 10 and part five-storey mixed use building with five levels of public and private parking spaces.

The proposal to demolish the existing car park and develop the site at 5-17 Lawson Street, Penrith is to address a shortfall of parking while being part of a larger vision to revitalise the CBD with new parks and facilities.

The Statement of Environmental Effects (SEE) said the car park will have an adjoining four storey office building comprising of over 6,200 square metres of commercial space along with public amenities.

“The development is to also deliver community facilities in the form of a multi-use space which is to be known as the “public room” which will comprise a basketball court/playground,” it said.

“The public room can be used as a multi-purpose community space for community-based activities such as markets, movie nights, functions, events, and concerts.”

The multi-storey car park will provide 731 spaces for vehicles, 11 accessible car parking spots, 24 motorcycle spaces and can fit 42 bicycles in response to the need for more parking in the city centre.

After undergoing a design excellence competition, the development will feature a public garden on the roof and a green façade to contribute to the cooling of the city.

“The green facade comprises a continuous line of planter boxes around the perimeter that will support both climbers and understorey species,” the SEE said.

“When viewed from the street the building will appear as a pixelated surface of leaves and seasonal flowers while from within the car park and from the commercial tenancies the vines will appear as a rich and thickened understorey.”

The project also comes with an art strategy to include public art into the urban design to benefit the community, along with creating more employment opportunities for local residents.

“The development has not only been designed to comply with key planning requirements but will play a positive role in the growth and prosperity of the Penrith CBD,” documents to Council said.

A Council spokesperson told the Weekender that more information will be released regarding the project soon with construction expected to start shortly.

“Council acknowledges receipt of DA approval to transform Soper Place,” the spokesperson said.

“Council has a broad vision to revitalise the Penrith City Centre and looks forward to releasing more information in the near future.”