Sydney airport reduces retail space

Emily Pacey

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Reduced landside retail complex at Sydney airport vulnerable to High Court challenge

Sydney airport has scaled back its plans for a A$200m ($154m) retail, aviation and business park, but it still faces a possible challenge by local councils in the High Court. The 67,840sq m (730,223sq ft) development, located on land near the third runway, will be reduced by almost one fifth to 50,400sq m (542,501sq ft), according to the revised proposal released last week. The airport has abandoned plans to build a cinema complex on the site, and said that it would reduce the number of parking spaces serving the retail hub from 2,808 to 2,414. It would, however, retain a homemaker store, factory outlet centre and independent discount store.

The decision to scale back the plans came in response to opposition by local councils and the New South Wales government, which claim that the development will place too much pressure on roads around the airport and damage the businesses of local retailers.

New South Wales planning minister Frank Sartor told local press that the state government will examine the impact the revised development might have on roads near the airport. He reportedly said, "The NSW government remains seriously concerned by the proposed commercial uses which have no relationship with, or connection to, airport activities."