Urban Renewal / Master Planning | Project Management & Design Coordination

The Ultimo Pyrmont Precinct plan represents the largest urban renewal project in Australia at the time, involving the total redevelopment of 140 hectares of former docklands, maritime, industrial, and medium-density housing areas within a comprehensive urban design strategy prepared by Architectus.

D+DM provided project management and design coordination support during the strategic planning phase, ensuring the integration of diverse planning objectives and stakeholder inputs into a coherent framework for urban transformation.

Context

Commissioned by the NSW Department of Planning, the project aimed to revitalise a significant, underutilised inner-city area adjacent to Sydney's CBD. The primary challenge was to create a cohesive vision for redeveloping a large, complex site with a mix of former industrial uses, existing housing, and heritage elements, establishing a basis for future private and public investment.

Approach

Architectus' approach involved preparing a detailed urban design strategy and precinct plan. This included developing special guidelines for historic areas within the overall project, alongside provisions for commercial, retail, residential, mixed, and recreational uses. D+DM supported this process by facilitating the integration of public and private transport studies, infrastructure planning, and commercial assessments undertaken in conjunction with the precinct planning. Coordination ensured the various technical studies informed a robust and deliverable urban design framework.

Result

The study and resulting precinct plan formed the primary basis for the subsequent Regional Environment Plan and Urban Development Plan, guiding the area's transformation over the following decades. The project received the 1993 RAPI/Planning Institute of Australia Award for Planning & Urban Design Excellence, recognising its significance in shaping one of Sydney's most successful urban regeneration initiatives.

Project Data

Location: Sydney, Australia Client: NSW Department of Planning Type: Urban Renewal / Master Planning Scale: 140 Hectares Completion: 1991 Services: Project Management, Design Coordination (Strategic Planning Phase)

Collaborators

Architect / Urban Designer: Architectus (Other consultants involved in transport, infrastructure, commercial assessments)

Reflection

The Ultimo Pyrmont Precinct planning demonstrates D+DM’s capability in managing large-scale, complex urban strategy projects involving multiple disciplines and government agencies. The project exemplifies the firm’s strength in facilitating the development of comprehensive urban design frameworks that successfully guide long-term regeneration and achieve planning excellence.