Westfield Doncaster’s New Dining and Entertainment Precinct Underway

Scentre Group, along with joint venture partners ISPT and M&G Real Estate Asia Property Fund, have announced that they have begun works for the $30 million redevelopment of Westfield Doncaster’s dining and entertainment precinct on Level 2.

It is envisioned that the precinct will transform into a ‘modern-village’ style rooftop dining and entertainment precinct centring around a rooftop courtyard with a distinctly Melbourne aesthetic. It will comprise of 14 curated restaurants and the existing Village Cinemas, with the precinct opening day and night to complement Village Cinemas’ late hours. Laneways and communal spaces filled with greenery, including a garden-style lobby and a sculpture garden, will create a warm and friendly social destination for the community.

Images: Greenery fill the communal spaces, creating a friendly and relaxed social destination for the community. (Images: ISPT and Westfield)

Colliers International observes that the trend towards an evolving retail experience continues, with owners of regional centres continuing to reposition their assets to focus on retail categories that can be consumed within the centre, such as retail services, entertainment and dining experiences. Westfield Doncaster’s new dining and entertainment precinct continues to add to the centre’s shopping experience, ensuring the centre’s continued performance in a challenging market.

Sam Curry, ISPT’s General Manager of Retail Services, said “There is a real need to constantly evolve and innovate the offer in retail centres and this latest project will respond to the changing needs of the area’s growing population.”

“We believe this development and proposed dining mix will be a great addition to Westfield Doncaster and we look forward to unveiling the new concept to the public in early 2020.”

The redevelopment of the dining and entertainment precinct is due for completion in early 2020. Earlier in the year, the masterplan for a $500 million redevelopment of Westfield Doncaster was approved. As part of this redevelopment, a 14-storey gateway building above a two-level podium of new premium retail was planned, which would create an additional 43,000 square metres of retail and 18,000 square metres of commercial office space on the site. It will also include an expanded bus interchange, additional car parking, as well as improved car and pedestrian access within the centre.

Cover Image: Artist Impression of Westfield Doncaster’s new rooftop dining precinct. (Image: ISPT)