The government of New South Wales (NSW) has announced a US$780m plan to build a major residential project in northwest Sydney.

The Hills Showground precinct will contain nine buildings, ranging from three to 21 storeys. These will contain 1,620 homes, 5% of which will be affordable, as well as 13,000 sq m of commercial floor space, 4,900 sq m of public open space and 500 sq m of community facilities.

Construction on the project is expected to create 1,920 jobs and generate $776m for the economy.

Hills Showground metro station opened in 2019 and is part of the Sydney Metro Northwest urban corridor along the Sydney Metro Northwest Line.

Rob Stokes, NSW’s minister for planning and public spaces, : “This exciting new development in the heart of The Hills will create homes, jobs and outstanding public spaces on the doorstep of a metro station.

“It will offer a diversity of housing for people with different lifestyles and open space that will include a park and plaza.”

Ray Williams, member of the NSW legislative assembly, said: “These are plans for The Hills that the local community have been widely consulted on. Based on their feedback, we reduced the number of new homes from 1,900 to 1,620.”