The Oxford Street 30 storey mixed use tower with 5 basement levels, a childcare centre, retail and 204 apartments is a welcome addition to the lively and popular suburb of Epping. However, it required progressing through a complex appeal process at Land and Environment Court to modify an original concept approval and to seek approval for new staged DAs, one for early works and one for detailed design. Due to the challenging nature of the appeal, Nigel Dickson was appointed by Mills Oakley on behalf of the applicant, as the Urban Design Expert. Nigel was first tasked with the role of negotiating design refinements with Council’s Experts in Joint Conferencing, and the Dickson Rothschild Architecture and Urban Design teams supported by preparing amended plans for consideration by the Court.

These design refinements focused on achieving a well-scaled streetscape presentation, minimising the impact of the additional height proposed above the existing concept approval as well as the LEP height standard and demonstrating that the development achieved Design Excellence. Commissioner O’Neill accepted and adopted Nigel’s analysis of each particular Design Excellence matter raised. When completed in 2025, Cielo will be Epping’s tallest building.

Image: SJB