Green light for $185m mixed-use tower near Gosford CBD as planners fast-track renewal push

A major mixed-use development on West Street in Gosford has cleared its final planning hurdle, with the Central Coast Council endorsing a $185 million project that will reshape the CBD's skyline and residential character.

The 22-storey tower, anchoring a previously dormant block between Gosford train station and the Leagues Club, will deliver 340 apartments, 8,000 square metres of retail and commercial space, and 500 basement car parking spaces. The approval comes as NSW authorities intensify efforts to revitalise regional city centres and make them more attractive to Sydney commuters and young families.

For a region where median property values hover around $820,000 across established suburbs like Terrigal and Avoca Beach, the Gosford project represents a deliberate strategy to create affordable inner-city housing options. Unit prices at comparable waterfront precincts on the northern beaches have climbed well beyond the reach of first-home buyers, making denser CBD development increasingly strategic.

"This is exactly the type of mixed-use infill we need," one local planning expert noted, observing that the approval signals confidence in Gosford's slow but steady transformation. The development will activate West Street, long seen as a bottleneck between the station precinct and the waterfront, and is expected to inject foot traffic into struggling retail sectors along Mann Street.

The timing aligns with ongoing construction of the fast rail connection to Sydney, a project that has already begun reshaping how Central Coast residents and workers think about commuting. With journey times to the city expected to fall below 65 minutes by 2028, developments like the West Street tower are banking on increased demand for CBD apartments without the premium waterfront price tag.

The approval included conditions around public domain improvements, including new street trees and widened footpaths along West Street, and a requirement for 5 per cent affordable housing on-site. Developers must also contribute to public car parking in the wider Gosford core.

Local business groups have cautiously welcomed the project, noting that construction jobs and increased foot traffic could help stabilise the CBD's struggling retail base. However, some residents have raised concerns about traffic congestion and car parking, with the local council agreeing to commission a transport study before construction begins.

The developer is expected to lodge a construction management plan within the next 60 days, with works potentially commencing in late 2027. The project is forecast to take three years to complete.

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