Client: Hunter Development Corporation
Macroplan was engaged to critically examine the development potential of an underutilised car park and surrounding site known as the Wickham (0.8 hectares) and Throsby sites (2.1 hectares) in Newcastle’s Honeysuckle waterfront precinct. The study process included literature review, case studies, stakeholder interviews and market assessments. A series of case studies involving urban renewal precincts from around Australia were explored and interpreted to distil key policy, planning and market considerations and critical success factors as a basis for understanding the drivers of effective urban renewal precincts. These case studies informed the development of a multi-criteria assessment tool.
As part of our assessment we undertook an independent economic and market analysis addressing several uses including retail, residential, commercial office and hotel/convention centre. The findings of our market analysis were used to determine a mix of appropriate uses supporting several development concepts identified and discussed in this report. Macroplan participated in targeted stakeholder interviews with 12 people representing organisations, which informed our interpretation of business and community expectations in relation to potential redevelopment outcomes.
Based on case study investigations and consultation, Macroplan developed a multi-criteria assessment tool to rank and evaluate two different urban renewal scenarios to determine development outcomes most likely to balance urban design principles and community expectations and commercial priorities.
