Cockle Bay Park plans to reconnect the city centre to Darling Harbour, bringing people together through nature, commerce, technology and culture.

The proposed redevelopment will deliver 10,000 square metres of public space, vastly improve the pedestrian connections between the Sydney CBD and Darling Harbour and provide a world-class retail, entertainment, dining and office precinct. It will be a significant new area of green space on the Darling Harbour waterfront, enjoying sunshine throughout the year.

The Independent Planning Commission approved the concept plan and stage one works in May 2019.

The Stage 2 development application and Environmental Impact Statement will be lodged to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in the second quarter of 2021.

Public Realm

Development plans include a dynamic and inclusive place for workers, locals and visitors to enjoy a world-class program of cultural events.

Retail

The precinct aspires to offer a range of premium and casual dining, along with retail, entertainment and service providing an inviting destination for all, with something for everyone.

Tower

A potential CBD workplace of the future providing unique waterfront amenity for a healthy work-life balance.

Public Realm

Development plans include a dynamic and inclusive place for workers, locals and visitors to enjoy a world-class program of cultural events.

Retail

The precinct aspires to offer a range of premium and casual dining, along with retail, entertainment and service providing an inviting destination for all, with something for everyone.

Tower

A potential CBD workplace of the future providing unique waterfront amenity for a healthy work-life balance.

At a glance

10,000

Up to 10,000 square metres of open public space, over the Western Distributor

24/7

Access to public space

80,000*

The development aims to potentially connect thousands of city workers

10,000*

The development seeks to add capacity for more visitors to major events

2026

Estimated completion date

*Source – PWC, strategic assessment of the vision for Cockle Bay Park report

Public Space

Cockle Bay Park will reconnect the city to the harbour, with the creation of a new green public space for all visitors to Darling Harbour to enjoy. 

The project will revitalize this precinct, creating a community destination that maintains a seamless harbourfront connection spanning from Barangaroo Reserve to the International Convention Centre.

The transformed precinct will include an expansive elevated park over the eight-lane Western Distributor, which has separated workers and visitors to the waterfront from the city since the 1970s. 

The space above the freeway will be bridged. This creates more than 6,500 square metres of public, green space and re-stitches Cockle Bay to the Sydney CBD. 

New entrances on Market and Druitt streets connect to landscaped open spaces. Ramped access and public lifts will provide easy access to Town Hall Station, the new Sydney Light Rail and planned Metro stations.  

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Retail

Cockle Bay Wharf is located at a critical intersection between the city’s CBD and Darling Harbour's tourist and entertainment district.​
​
This makes it the natural location for a family friendly entertainment precinct, with eating and drinking options throughout the year. ​
​
The building podium will deliver 10,000 square metres of retail space, with a wide pedestrian boulevard linking internationally acclaimed shops, restaurants and bars with the park facilities and lobby above.  ​
​
Cockle Bay Park will hold exciting public art and cultural experiences for thousands of people each year.

Tower

Cockle Bay Park will include a premium 6 Green Star office tower with best practice sustainability, smart building design and cutting-edge workplaces, creating more jobs and business opportunities for a growing global city. 

The design provides a unique opportunity to deliver strategic employment and workplace uses in the tower, interlocked with engaging cultural uses arranged within its retail podium. 

The 42 storey office tower will feature floorplates of over 1,800 square metres with sweeping views of the water at all levels, including a spectacular lobby with uninterrupted views of the harbour.

The commercial building has been designed with a slender structure to be in harmony with the existing skyline and the broader harbour precinct.

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Community

Our community consultation continues. Community design workshops were held in May and June 2019 as part of the design excellence process.  As part of this, the community developed a brief for the design competitors on how this important public space could be designed.  The project will continue to undertake community and stakeholder engagement. We will seek further input during community workshops and meetings in 2020 and 2021. 

Design

To ensure an enduring place is created that will benefit all of Sydney, a customer-centred design process was undertaken. In this process a group of residents from across Sydney developed a design brief for the designers to consider in the competition.  Following Stage One development approval, the International Design Competition was held and the community's design brief was provided to six globally-renowned architectural teams, comprising lead architects from both international and local firms.  An urban park centred scheme, designed by a team lead by Henning Larsen, was selected by the competition jury as the winning concept. Stage Two of the Development Approval Process is now underway with the application due to be lodged in the second quarter 2021.

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Public Space

Cockle Bay Park will reconnect the city to the harbour, with the creation of a new green public space for all visitors to Darling Harbour to enjoy. 

The project will revitalize this precinct, creating a community destination that maintains a seamless harbourfront connection spanning from Barangaroo Reserve to the International Convention Centre.

The transformed precinct will include an expansive elevated park over the eight-lane Western Distributor, which has separated workers and visitors to the waterfront from the city since the 1970s. 

The space above the freeway will be bridged. This creates more than 6,500 square metres of public, green space and re-stitches Cockle Bay to the Sydney CBD. 

New entrances on Market and Druitt streets connect to landscaped open spaces. Ramped access and public lifts will provide easy access to Town Hall Station, the new Sydney Light Rail and planned Metro stations.  

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Retail

Cockle Bay Wharf is located at a critical intersection between the city’s CBD and Darling Harbour's tourist and entertainment district.​
​
This makes it the natural location for a family friendly entertainment precinct, with eating and drinking options throughout the year. ​
​
The building podium will deliver 10,000 square metres of retail space, with a wide pedestrian boulevard linking internationally acclaimed shops, restaurants and bars with the park facilities and lobby above.  ​
​
Cockle Bay Park will hold exciting public art and cultural experiences for thousands of people each year.

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Tower

Cockle Bay Park will include a premium 6 Green Star office tower with best practice sustainability, smart building design and cutting-edge workplaces, creating more jobs and business opportunities for a growing global city. 

The design provides a unique opportunity to deliver strategic employment and workplace uses in the tower, interlocked with engaging cultural uses arranged within its retail podium. 

The 42 storey office tower will feature floorplates of over 1,800 square metres with sweeping views of the water at all levels, including a spectacular lobby with uninterrupted views of the harbour.

The commercial building has been designed with a slender structure to be in harmony with the existing skyline and the broader harbour precinct.

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Community

Our community consultation continues. Community design workshops were held in May and June 2019 as part of the design excellence process.  As part of this, the community developed a brief for the design competitors on how this important public space could be designed.  The project will continue to undertake community and stakeholder engagement. We will seek further input during community workshops and meetings in 2020 and 2021. 

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Design

To ensure an enduring place is created that will benefit all of Sydney, a customer-centred design process was undertaken. In this process a group of residents from across Sydney developed a design brief for the designers to consider in the competition.  Following Stage One development approval, the International Design Competition was held and the community's design brief was provided to six globally-renowned architectural teams, comprising lead architects from both international and local firms.  An urban park centred scheme, designed by a team lead by Henning Larsen, was selected by the competition jury as the winning concept. Stage Two of the Development Approval Process is now underway with the application due to be lodged in the second quarter 2021.

Concept from the design competition winning proposal

Get in Touch

For more information about the Cockle Bay Park development download the latest newsletter.

We value your feedback and invite you to submit any questions or comments you may have via the form below.

Get in Touch

For more information about the Cockle Bay Park development download the latest newsletter.

We value your feedback and invite you to submit any questions or comments you may have via the form below.