These 80-storey twin towers are set to rise above Sydney

TWIN 80-storey skyscrapers have been proposed for Sydney’s central business district (CBD).

The USD $514 million development for 338 Pitt Street will include 158 hotel rooms and nearly 600 apartments across the dual 257-metre-high towers - linked by a multi-level skybridge.

The New York-inspired skyscrapers were originally approved by the Council's Planning Committee at 66 storeys and 235 metres more than three years ago.

Above: The twin towers will be linked by a "sky terrace" (image courtesy of FJMT Studio).

The towers’ new height would almost rival the under construction 271-metre-high One Barangaroo tower - the city’s soon-to-be tallest building.

The ambitious new iteration of the project from China Centre Development and Han's Group comes as governments around the world have been approving and encouraging large scale construction projects in a bid to boost economies in the wake of COVID-19.

Above: The towers will dramatically change Sydney's cityscape (image courtesy of FJMT Studi o).

The 338 Pitt Street twin towers could be set to join the previously announced USD $700 million 505 George Street tower on Sydney’s skyline. The 270-metre-high skyscraper won council approval in May and will add 507 apartments to the city.

In April, the New South Wales government announced a USD $5.3 billion plan to kickstart the economy with 24 “shovel-ready” projects.

This includes 4,441 new homes for the state, new university buildings, the redevelopment of the Mt Druitt CBD, and Snowy Hydro 2.0 - the largest renewable energy project in Australia.

Above: 505 George Street will rise 270 metres above Sydney (image courtesy of Ingenhoven Architects and Architectus)

Elsewhere in Australia, the state of Victoria has fast-tracked the approval of the country’s tallest building - the 365-metre-high “Green Spine”.

These impressive new projects prove encouraging as the rest of the world braces for an economic downturn not seen in almost a century.

Members of the public have until August to submit concerns or complaints about the proposed twin towers at 338 Pitt Street. A spokesperson for the council said the application will be considered later this year.