Located approximately 18 kilometres north-west of the Sydney CBD, Epping was once a sleepy local village centre, made up of dated strip retail, run-down public parks and a generally uninspiring public realm.
Epping’s town centre had all the critical ingredients needed to make a vibrant public place. Yet it had never quite taken off as one of Sydney’s ‘it’ suburbs, despite the fact that it boasts proximity to major employment nodes such as Macquarie Park, Ryde and Parramatta; major transport connections, including a direct rail line to the Sydney CBD, bus lines and a nearby motorway; public, private and tertiary educational amenity within easy access; a major regional shopping centre just down the road; and a wealth of local recreational amenity.
In 2014 the Epping Town Centre was dedicated as one of eight Urban Renewal Areas around Sydney (previously an Urban Activation Precinct) by the NSW Department of Planning.
Approximately 20 percent of the Town Centre was rezoned to help Sydney plan for the additional 545,000 homes that were required to house its booming population over the next two decades.
Since then, the Town Centre has undergone a major revitalisation that will ultimately realise an activated, safe, walkable and high-quality public realm for the surrounding community to enjoy.
Starting with the overhaul of the Epping Transport Interchange, and followed by a number of high-density, transport-orientated residential projects, including the recently completed $550 million Hills M2 upgrade; the nearing completion of NorthConnex, critically connecting the M1 to the M2; and the long-awaited $8.3 billion Sydney Metro Northwest, slated to open in mid-2019, Epping slowly came to life.
To this end, Cbus Property is currently developing ‘The Langston’, a unique mixed-use precinct 100 metres from the Epping Train Station, that will become an inspiring new landmark within a revitalised Epping Town Centre.
Partnering with leading Australian architect, Architectus and landscape architecture firm Arcadia, we’ve designed a destination that will ultimately realise 463 premium apartments across three towers of 19, 24 and 29 storeys. Hutchinson Builders has recently been appointed to commence ground works on the site of The Langston, with work scheduled to get underway in early 2019.
Upon completion, The Langston will herald a new era for Epping and become a major contributor to the improvement of Epping’s broader public realm, linking pedestrians from the station through to the eastern side of Epping.
A ground level retail podium comprising nearly 1,700sqm of net leasable area will lure Sydney’s best cafes and restaurant operators, creating a precinct not just for The Langston’s residents but also the wider community.
We’ll be creating nearly 2,000sqm of communal open space, with laneway and pedestrian links to feature throughout the precinct, connecting The Langston with the existing Epping public library and other nearby recreational facilities.
At Cbus Property, we pride ourselves on creating incredible destinations that contribute to the broader community within which they exist, and The Langston will be no different.