---
tags: NSW
---

# Castle Hill Showground Masterplan

*Released 2012*
*PDF: https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/shared-drupal-s3fs/master-test/fapub_pdf/DCP-CP/THE+HILLS/The+Hills+DCP+2012+-+Showground+Precinct+-++September+2018.pdf*

## 1 Introduction
This section establishes a framework and controls to guide development in the Showground Station Precinct (the Precinct).

### 1.1 Land to which this Section applies
This section applies to the land within the Showground Station precinct (refer Figure 1).


### 1.2 Purpose of this Section
The purpose of this section of the DCP is to guide the future development of the Showground Station Precinct by identifying the vision, development principles, key elements and indicative structure for the future development of the precinct. It seeks to ensure the orderly, efficient and environmentally sensitive development of the precinct to achieve high quality urban design outcomes.

This DCP was developed with consideration to the Apartment Design Guide, which sets minimum requirements for compliance. This DCP builds on these same principles to facilitate the delivery of a distinct local character that aligns with Council’s vision for the Precinct.

### 1.3 Relationship to other Sections of this DCP
This section forms part of The Hills Development Control Plan 2012 (DCP 2012). Development within the Showground Station Precinct will need to have regard to this section of the DCP as well as other relevant controls in DCP 2012. In the event of any inconsistency between this section and other sections of DCP 2012, this section will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

## 2 Vision and Principles
### 2.1 Vision
The Showground Station Precinct is proposed to become an attractive and well-connected neighbourhood that achieves housing targets, creates vibrant, safe and desirable places, reinforces the garden shire character and lifestyle, and is supported by necessary infrastructure. It is anticipated the Precinct will provide up to 9,000 additional dwellings and 2,300 additional jobs by 2036 (excluding potential growth within the deferred area on the western side of Cattai Creek). In order to meet this vision, future development within the Precinct must achieve the following key principles and strategic priorities.

### 2.2 Development Principles
To achieve the vision, future development within the Precinct must address the following key principles and strategic priorities of Council:

**Housing Diversity**
As the population grows there will be greater reliance on higher density development to accommodate future housing demand. The expected characteristics of the Hills Shire population will continue to include a variety of household types including singles, couples and a high proportion of households with children. It will be critical that future high density development provides ‘dwelling diversity’ to ensure the market caters for the different living needs, expectations and household budgets within the community. This will require the provision of an appropriate mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments which are varied in size.

Apartment buildings are long term building stock so it is very important that if they are to be built, they are resilient over the long term. Unlike detached housing where landowners can choose the style and size of their home, a homeowner wanting an apartment can only choose from what is being provided. Whilst smaller apartments should be provided to meet the needs of a certain demographic within the market, moderate and larger apartments should also be provided to meet the latent demand for this housing option. This will then reduce pressure on smaller, more affordable housing options.

In order to achieve appropriate housing diversity within the Corridor, a floor space incentive provision has been included within The Hills Local Environmental Plan 2012 which permits additional floor space for developments that provide the required mix of apartment types and sizes (refer Figure 2). Further information on housing diversity is also provided as Appendix A.


**Employment Outcomes**
A significant growth in population will require a corresponding increase in employment opportunities to meet demand and provide more jobs close to homes. Sufficient land has been zoned for employment uses to meet the targeted number of new jobs. However, it will be important to ensure that opportunities for jobs growth are protected and that employment potential is not lost due to pressure for residential development in the shorter term.

The Shire’s resident labour force is educated and the majority are employed as professionals, managers or clerical and administrative workers. However a high proportion of these residents seek travel outside the Shire to access higher order employment opportunities that meet their skill set and qualifications. Development within the rail corridor presents an opportunity to address the current imbalance between the available jobs and the skills of residents, and ensure that new populations can access high quality professional employment close to where they live.

The rail corridor will be an attractive location for commercial businesses to locate being close to the existing Norwest Business Park, highly accessible by road and public transport and in close proximity to a highly skilled labour force. The planning controls will further attract businesses by facilitating quality spaces and facilities for workers and visitors including active streets that promote commercial, retail and business activity and town squares and plazas that provide spaces for informal meetings, recreation and dining.

**Transit Oriented Development**
Transit oriented development (TOD) involves the creation of compact, walkable, mixed-use communities around public transport nodes. A key goal of TODs is to increase the number of people who walk, cycle or use public transport as their main form of transport. TODs have densities that result in increased patronage of public transport and provide more opportunities for people to live near the station and reduce their reliance on vehicles.

The need to locate high density housing in centres with good access to services, community facilities and transport is well recognised and will support the on-going operation of the Sydney Metro Northwest. Density at the core allows for a scale and character suitable for pedestrian connectivity. Centres should provide a mixture of residential, retail and commercial activities that are centred around transport and create an environment where services, recreation, entertainment, jobs and housing provide a lifestyle alternative to the traditional suburban context, consistent with the principles of TODs.

This DCP Section supports the provision of TODs by helping to deliver the highest densities in key strategic locations close to centres and existing and proposed transport infrastructure. This will ensure a sensible balance can be achieved between delivering on housing targets whilst ensuring an appropriate transition in residential densities and maintaining residential character.

**Infrastructure and Open Space **
Public open spaces play an important role in urban areas including provision of recreation, environmental conservation, connecting people with nature and improving social and mental health.

The expected additional population of approximately 20,300 people within the Showground Precinct will increase demand for various public facilities and services (such as roads, community facilities, open space and the like). The future population should be provided with access to open space, recreation and community facilities in line with the lifestyle enjoyed by existing residents.

There is a need to vastly improve open space networks to meet the demands generated by incoming population and ensure appropriate recreational opportunities are provided for the future population. A number of local and neighbourhood parks are required in key locations that will be connected through dedicated shared ways along all streets providing a high level of amenity for both pedestrian and cyclists. Public plazas and town squares in the areas surrounding the stations and upgrades to open spaces outside of the precincts provide further opportunities for active and passive recreation.

**Place Making**
Place making will be a key focus in order to provide neighbourhoods that are sustainable, accessible, safe, attractive and well serviced with a unique character and sense of place. The development controls will provide the guidelines to make neighbourhoods liveable including vibrant activity centres, permeable and safe movement networks, generous public spaces, high quality built form and public art and ecologically sustainable development. The provision of quality spaces including streets, parks, buildings, and other public spaces will invite greater interaction between people and foster healthier, more social and economically viable communities.

Public areas such as informal gathering areas within centres will include high quality and durable elements such as seating, shading and lighting to enhance the amenity of these areas. Streets will be well connected incorporating shared pedestrian/cycleways. The precinct will incorporate new public domain treatments including new paving, new street furniture and lighting, improved pedestrian access and dedicated street tree planting.

Quality built form plays a vital role in achieving liveable, productive and resilient environments and creating great places that people want to live, work, visit and invest in. Development which achieves the key principles and meets with the development controls in this DCP will ensure an exemplary standard of design that provides a positive contribution to the public realm. A design excellence clause has also been included within The Hills Local Environmental Plan 2012 to require certain buildings to be assessed by a design excellence panel to achieve quality built form outcomes for the precincts.

## 3 Desired Future Character and Structure Plan

### 3.1 Desired Future Character
There are four key character areas within the precinct:

**Employment Areas**
The employment areas will be attractive, walkable and thriving destinations with quality built form, landscaping and enhanced connectivity to the Station. Development adjacent to Cattai Creek will facilitate restoration of the creek corridor and benefit from the natural setting, open space and amenity provided by the area.

The bulky goods spine along Victoria Avenue and light industrial areas in the west of the precinct will generally be retained to provide shopping and services for the incoming population. Opportunities for new commercial development will be provided along Carrington Road and on Windsor Road adjacent to Norwest Business Park.

Carrington Road will be aesthetically enhanced comprising a landscaped median, wide footpaths and mature street trees. Existing bulky goods/light industrial areas will continue to provide quality buildings and large landscaped setbacks. New commercial development will provide opportunities for taller office style buildings up to six storeys in height, with setbacks that incorporate quality landscaping to complement existing areas.

Permeability within the employment areas and connectivity to the station and surrounding residential areas will be enhanced through the provision of through site links, on and off road pedestrian/cycle links, additional road connections and intersection upgrades.

**Mixed Use Areas**
A new local centre will be a vibrant and active central focus for the precinct. The centre will provide a range of shops, cafes, restaurants and local services and quality public spaces including wide footpaths and plazas. A main village plaza will connect the new station to Castle Hill Showground. Shops, cafes and restaurants will open onto the plaza with outdoor seating areas. A central lawn area will be provided for workers and visitors to relax or play. Quality mature landscaped areas around the plaza edges will offer pleasant shaded green space year round.

Buildings will have a dense urban character comprising urban active edges, residential development at upper levels and commercial development close to the retail heart of the centre. Upper residential levels will be setback to enhance residential amenity and provide visual interest to buildings. Residential development will promote activity outside of the traditional retail and workday hours and activate streets in the evenings.


**Castle Hill Showground**
The Castle Hill Showground will be a regional scale attraction and build upon its significance as a cultural and leisure facility. Future layout and uses will be the subject of a detailed master planning process.

**Residential Areas**
The residential areas will be green and walkable, providing a lifestyle alternative to the traditional suburban context, focused highly on an appropriate scale and an attractive environment for pedestrians. Built form will be an appealing scale to pedestrians by providing generous street setbacks, variety of materials and colours and green elements to reduce building bulk and add visual interest. The highest density development will be located closest to the station and local centre with more compact urban form and quality building design and finishes. Development will become less dense moving away from the station incorporating more generous landscaped setbacks and central communal open spaces with high quality building design. Residential areas will transition to terraces or townhouses within landscaped settings on the edges of the precinct to provide genuine diversity in housing stock. Green spaces will bring a sense of nature into the neighbourhoods through open spaces, tree lined streets and garden areas within street setbacks.

### 3.2 Showground Precinct Structure Plan and Key Elements
Objectives

a) To ensure that development occurs in a coordinated manner consistent with the Precinct vision and the development principles of housing diversity, employment opportunities, transit oriented development, quality infrastructure and open space and place making.

b) To provide a mix of housing, retail, employment and services in appropriate and logical locations within the Precinct.

c) To locate higher scale residential apartments and commercial uses closest to the station, the Castle Hill Showground and Cattai Creek corridor to optimise access to station facilities as well as outlook and natural amenity.

d) To develop a local centre and main plaza in the area immediately surrounding the station to provide local shopping, employment opportunities and other services to support the incoming population and establish a vibrant and well-used public domain.

Controls
1. Development is to comply with the desired character in Section 3.1 of this DCP, key elements in Table 1 and the Showground Precinct Structure Plan in Figure 7.
2. Where variations are proposed, development is to demonstrate how the vision, development principles, key elements for the Precinct and relevant specific objectives are to be achieved.

Table 1 Key Elements of the Precinct

| Element | Description |
| -------- | -------- |
| Land Use | - A mixed use local centre immediately surrounding the station with shops, cafes, restaurants, plazas, local services and some commercial premises and apartments at upper levels. <br> - pqr ` ` |
| Open Space & Public Domain | Text |
| Movement | Text |
| Network | Text |
| Built Form | Text |