The new Green Square community is closer to getting its planned new primary school and community facility.

The design has been unveiled by the NSW Government and the City of Sydney.

The new primary school will meet enrolment demands in one of Australia&#39;s fastest growing neighbourhoods.&nbsp;

The project will include additional facilities designed for both school and community use.

Architect BVN&rsquo;s competition-winning design integrates school and community spaces for both day and night use and will be built on the former South Sydney Hospital site on Joynton Avenue. 
&nbsp; 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=30049 project_image_fid=162873]

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the winning design from BVN would &quot;create a fantastic place for children to learn.&rdquo; 
&nbsp; 
The NSW Government will fund and staff the project with a contribution from the City of Sydney. 
&nbsp; 
The winning design was commended for its response to the surrounding local area, its clever multi-purpose sports court, smart educational approach and its consideration of the environment.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City will contribute $25 million to the &quot;revolutionary school to provide much-needed community facilities that will be activated day and night for the whole community to use.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100811 project_image_fid=162886]

&ldquo;Close to the aquatic center and library, this school will be an important addition to the area&rsquo;s educational, social and cultural life,&rdquo; the Lord Mayor said.

&ldquo;This new school will sit at the heart of the growing Green Square community and set a new benchmark for urban development,&quot; she added.

The latest apartment project being marketed is Green Square By Mirvac with Portman House at 77-93 Portman Street, Zetland.

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=30049]

&nbsp;

The new school will sit at the heart of the growing Green Square community which is setting a new benchmark for urban development, Mayor Clover Moore advised
.

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

New primary school proposed for Sydney's Green Square

The total number of dwelling starts rose by 0.2 per cent to a 2&frac12;-year high of 51,662 homes in the March quarter, according to the ABS.

Starts are up 13.1 per cent on the year.&nbsp;

Total house starts rose by 5.9 per cent to a record high (records since September 1965) of 36,395 houses.

But total apartment starts fell by 11.4 per cent to an 8&frac12;-year low of 15,083 units.

The value of residential and commercial building work in the pipeline stood at $92.8 billion at the end of March, up by 1.3 per cent on a year ago.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29048 project_image_fid=151676]

This was below the record-high of $99.5 billion at the end of June 2018, CommSec economist Ryan Felsman advised.&nbsp;

The value of residential work in the pipeline hit record highs in Tasmania ($729.8 million) and South Australia ($3.1 billion) in the March quarter with Western Australia at 5-year highs ($4.4 billion).&nbsp;

Across Australia, 193,581 homes were being built at the end of March, down from a record 229,351 homes in March 2018.

Work started on 188,607 new dwellings over the 12 months to March, up by 7 per cent on the year.&nbsp;

Starts fell from a record high of 234,440 dwellings in the year to June 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95099 project_image_fid=169112]

Across states and territories, starts in the March quarter: NSW (up 9.2 per cent); Victoria (down 15.1 per cent); Queensland (down 5.0 per cent); South Australia (up 16.1 per cent); Western Australia (up 18.7 per cent); Tasmania (up 14.7 per cent); Northern Territory (down 38.8 per cent); and the ACT (up 42.6 per cent).&nbsp;

In the March quarter, the value of residential and commercial building work done rose by 3.0 per cent to be down 1.1 per cent on a year ago, according to the ABS.

New residential work lifted 4.8 per cent, alterations &amp; additions rose 11.4 per cent and commercial building fell by 1.4 per cent.

Across Australia, 193,581 homes were being built at the end of March, down from a record 229,351 homes in March 2018.

New apartment starts shrink to 8 year low: ABS

Construction has been ramped up on stage one of the shopping centre precinct within the Mernda Town Centre project that spans 27 hectares in Melbourne&#39;s northern fringe.

The entire project will include retail, commercial, entertainment and residential offerings, delivered in multiple stages over the next five years.

The directors of investment manager Occasio Projects announced their acquisition of the $500m mixed-use Mernda development from Woolworths, which will remain as the key anchor tenant along with 35 speciality retail shops.

The site approval from Whittlesea Council came in 2019.

The broader Mernda Town Centre project spans 27 hectares and will include retail, commercial, entertainment and residential offerings. It will be delivered in multiple stages over the next five years and provide more than 1,000 ongoing employment opportunities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95340 project_image_fid=160801] 
 
Whittlesea Council is a foundation stakeholder in the Mernda Town Centre, with future plans for a learning and well-being offering in addition to restoring the historic Mayfield Farm.

Mayfield Farm had been set to be bulldozed, like the nearby neglected Black Braes Farm, but was saved after a campaign by locals. The neighbouring Carome Homestead, owned by Parks Victoria and managed by Working Heritage, is a popular destination for tourists.

The development precinct has a long history, so Occasio Projects are intend on fast-tracking its delivery with the currently partially complete store due to open mid-next year. 
&nbsp; 
The project now has strong financial backing from the three shareholders of Occasio Projects being Ray Zelouf, the founder of Occasio Projects; Dorman Capital, the family office of the co-founder of Regis Healthcare along with Jensz Investment Company, owned by Craig Jensz, the founder of Lion Advisory.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=99962 project_image_fid=160810]

It was 2013 when Woolworths bought the site from Becton for about $31 million.

The Mernda Town Centre site was originally proposed by the failed Fincorp property group.

The Whittlesea urban area includes Mill Park, South Morang and its rural north includes Beveridge; Donnybrook; Eden Park, Woodstock and Wollert where Cedar Woods has its Mason Quarter project.

Wollert has three train stations within 20 minutes.

Whittlesea Council is a foundation stakeholder in the Mernda Town Centre project

Construction ramped up on Mernda master-planned suburb 

A St Kilda island site spanning 1,370sqm has been bought by a local apartment developer for $7.9 million.

As the suburb continues along the regeneration path, Fitzroys&rsquo; Mark Talbot and Shawn Luo, together with Danny Clark and Michael Gross of Gross Waddell ICR, sold the property at 344-360 St Kilda Road via a June expressions of interest campaign.

It was listed by the vendor who had accumulated the site at the corner of Pakington Street, opposite the Queens&#39; Arms Hotel apartment complex.

The initial 756 sqm acquisition was the corner block in 2012 at $2.7 million. There was then a $3.5 million acquisition in 2016.

The site comes with a permit for a premium six-storey mixed-use development, with 44 apartments and a net saleable area of 4,743sqm.

The local developer buyer was attracted to the project which has residences designed for the growing downsizer and owner occupier segments of the market.&nbsp;

The site is on one of Melbourne&rsquo;s main inner-city arterials serviced by multiple tram routes at its doorstep, walking and cycling trails and Balaclava train station.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29048 project_image_fid=151675]

The site currently comprises a single-level showroom and office tenanted by Tradelink and SMR Advertising.

Cordell Connect indicated 344, 350 and 352-360 St Kilda Road had an estimated value of $15 million on construction.

It traded on a sharp 2.4% yield.&nbsp;

&ldquo;The market recognised this site as the largest development opportunity in the suburb for some time, with nearly 200 enquiries received from enthusiastic parties,&rdquo; Talbot said.

&quot;There&rsquo;s a host of residential, retail and commercial projects that promise to bring a new vibrancy to a famous Melbourne location.&rdquo;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89720 project_image_fid=147514]

&ldquo;St Kilda&rsquo;s lifestyle attributes makes it uniquely attractive to a number of demographics, and its catchment comprises established, affluent and transient cohorts.&nbsp;

Last month Colliers sold a development site, zoned commercial 1 zoned, at 102-112 St Kilda Road at an undisclosed price.

The offering was six adjoining properties totalling 827 sqm.

It had been listed unsuccessfully in 2018 with $6 million hopes for all six, having been acquired by the vendors over time, with CoreLogic records showing the last separate sale had been No. 102 for $900,000 in 2012.

Gross Waddell ICR currently has another high-profile St Kilda Road corner freehold for sale with a recently approved permit for a mixed use development. 
&nbsp; 
It is at 46-52 St Kilda Road.

The developer had sought an eight-storey building comprising ground level retail, 26 dwellings, 44 car parking spaces, 33 car stacker parking spaces and 31 on site and two on-street bicycle spaces in 2020, and then secured permission for an eight storey mixed use development consisting of 2,902 sqm* of NSA

The plans offer oversized apartments with a blended average of 116 sqm* of NSA per apartment.

 
&nbsp;

The local developer intends to utilise the site’s existing permit for a premium six-storey mixed-use development

Local developer pays $7.9 million for St Kilda residential apartment site

The NSW Government has ruled that residential tenants will have greater protection during the escalating lockdown with a targeted eviction moratorium.  

Additionally residential landlords who decrease rent for impacted tenants can apply for a grant of up to $1,500 or land tax reductions depending on their circumstances.
 
Commercial and retail landlords will need to attempt mediation before recovering a security bond, or locking out or evicting a commercial or retail tenant impacted by the Public Health Order.

Commercial, retail and residential landlords liable for land tax will be eligible for a land tax concession where they reduce the rent of their tenant.

The temporary tenancy moratorium introduced in 2020 to restrict when landlords could evict tenants due to rental arrears as a result of COVID-19 ended on 26 March 2021.

From 27 March 2021, a six-month transitional period had begun.

The six-month transitional period saw COVID-19 impacted tenants who accrued rent arrears between 15 April 2020 and 26 March 2021 not being subject to the standard tenancy eviction rules for those arrears.

Tenants and landlords were being assisted by Fair Trading to negotiate repayment plans for arrears accrued during the moratorium period. Under the transition landlords were only be able to evict these tenants for these arrears if they have first attempted in good faith to negotiate a repayment plan. 

It also has to be fair and reasonable to evict.

If a landlord and tenant have agreed to a repayment plan, the tenant cannot be evicted unless they have failed to meet agreed repayments on two consecutive occasions.

COVID-19 impacted tenants are also permanently protected from being listed on tenancy databases for arrears accrued during the moratorium period.

Landlords were able to terminate any tenant under standard provisions for arrears accrued after the moratorium measures ended on 26 March 2021.

The NSW Government has announced the new support for landlords included up to $210 million in grants to eligible landlords.The land tax relief will be equal to the value of rent reductions provided by landlords to financially distressed tenants, up to 100 per cent of the 2021 land tax year liability.
 
Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said the short-term tenancy and landlords support package will provide renters and landlords with immediate assistance during the COVID-19 lockdown.
 
“These measures hinge on landlords and tenants working together through this challenging period and we encourage both parties to enter negotiations in good faith.
  
For more information visit: https://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/

The latest eviction measures were announced by the NSW Government amid an economic support package worth billions of dollars aimed at helping businesses and people right across the state fight through the current COVID-19 lockdown.
 
The commitment will now be up to $5.1 billion, including more than $1 billion from the Commonwealth as part of a business and employee support program.
 
The business grants program announced two weeks ago has been expanded, with grants between $7,500 and $15,000 available to eligible businesses with annual wages up to $10 million. 

A new grant program has also been introduced for smaller micro businesses with turnover between $30,000 and $75,000.



Residential landlords who decrease rent for impacted tenants can apply for a grant 

Sydney apartment tenants secure eviction moratorium in lockdown measures

The Lewis Land Group are providing its staff of 650 with two days paid vaccination leave.

The aim was to encourage their whole team to get the jab as soon as possible, its chief executive, Matthew McCarron said.

&quot;We know that the only pathway out of the dangerous and disruptive cycle of lockdown is via vaccination.&nbsp;

&quot;We also believe that it&rsquo;s incumbent on all businesses &ndash; big and small &ndash; to support the acceleration and advancement of this effort.&quot;

Lewis Land have also offered sites as community vaccination hubs.

Lewis Land Group is Australia&#39;s oldest private property developer having been founded by Bernard Lewis in 1957.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32227 project_image_fid=93945]

It has since developed more than 20,000 residential lots including land at Endeavour Hills in Melbourne and Campbelltown in Sydney.

In the 1980s it developed waterfront canal and inland island developments such as Paradise Point Keys, Huntington Harbour, Key Biscayne, Grand Canal, Biggera Waters and Runaway Islands.&nbsp;

&quot;The crown of these was The Sovereign Islands, followed by Ephraim Island,&quot; their website advises.

Its current major project is Sovereign Hills is a mixed-use master planned community in Port Macquarie, which will have 2,400 lots plus a 25,000 sqm town centre with retail, commercial and leisure space, schooling and childcare, recreational facilities, and parklands.

The display village at Sovereign Hills was newest opened last April by Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar with 14 builders and 21 homes, the largest village between Newcastle and the Gold Coast.&nbsp;

Lewis Land Group are providing all 650 staff with two days paid vaccination leave to encourage their whole team to get the jab as soon as possible

Lewis Land Group lead property industry with Covid vaccination leave initiative 

The national residential rental vacancy rate fell to 1.7% June down from 1.8% in the month prior, reflecting the lowest vacancy rate at the national level since May 2011.&nbsp;

Vacancy rates continue to fall for Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Hobart, while some regional locations recorded a moderate rise in vacancies. 
&nbsp; 
The total number of vacancies Australia-wide now stands at 60,457 residential properties, down from 62,144 in May.&nbsp;

Melbourne&rsquo;s vacancy rate fell to 3.5% in June from 3.7% in May, while in Sydney vacancy rates dropped to 2.8% from 2.9%.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3459 project_image_fid=147569]

SQM calculated vacancy rates fell again within the Melbourne CBD to 5.8%.

It also fell in the Sydney CBD to 5.6%.

Just a month prior the CBD vacancy rates sat at 8% in Melbourne, and in the Sydney CBD at 6.8%.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7758 project_image_fid=79424]

Both CBD were seeing &quot;a return towards more-longer term levels,&quot; according to SQM&#39;s Louis Christopher.

The &nbsp;Melbourne CBD vacancy rates was at 8.3% in April.

Other capital city results saw Brisbane at at 1.3%.

In Adelaide, Canberra and Hobart, the June vacancy rate remained below 1%, while Perth (0.9%) and Darwin (0.4%) remained constant.&nbsp;

Darwin has been positively affected by Covid-19, as low vacancy rates continue to boost rents.&nbsp;

Melbourne’s June vacancy rate fell to 3.5% from 3.7% in May, while in Sydney vacancy rates dropped to 2.8% from 2.9%

Vacancy rates in recovery for Melbourne CBD landlord investors: SQM

New homes sales jumped around 15 per cent in June, according to the HIA New Home Sales report.

The data comes from a survey of the largest volume home builders in the five largest states.

Private new detached home sales rose by 14.8 per cent in June to 5,841.&nbsp;

Over the year to June, sales were 44.9 per cent higher than the previous year. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;The strength of new home sales nationally suggests that there will be a significant number of new homes entering the pipeline post HomeBuilder which will ensure activity remains elevated into 2022,&rdquo; HIA economist Angela Lillicrap said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=99962 project_image_fid=160810]&nbsp;

While sales in the June 2021 quarter are below the levels experienced during the nine months of the HomeBuilder program they are stronger than the same quarter in 2019 and on par with the June 2018 quarter, which was a strong year for detached home building. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;Record low interest rates and confidence in the housing market are driving demand from owner occupiers. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;Strong house price growth is also a contributing factor,&quot; she said.

&quot;Households enter into a contract to build with the expectation that house prices will continue to grow and the property will be worth more when it is completed,&quot; she said. 
&nbsp; 
The strength in new home sales is not occurring evenly across the states. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;New home sales in New South Wales and Western Australia were over a third higher in the June 2021 quarter compared to the same time in 2019.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=95340 project_image_fid=160801]

Sales in Queensland were 4.4 per cent higher compared to the June 2019 quarter, while Victoria is flat (down by 0.1 per cent).&nbsp;

South Australia had the strongest response to HomeBuilder, but sales since the end of the program remain lower by 14.4 per cent compared to the June 2019 quarter. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;This strong volume of sales will continue to pull the national economy forward,&rdquo; concluded Ms Lillicrap.

No data was published by the HIA for multi-unit sales.&nbsp;

The HIA publish an annual Housing 100 Report which lists the nation&rsquo;s top residential builders.

Metricon Homes top the last published list with a total of 4,534 new home starts across Victoria, Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.&nbsp;

Of these starts, 4,303 were detached houses and 170 were semi-detached dwellings,&rdquo; added Mr Reardon.

The second most active builder in 2019/20 &ndash; and the nation&rsquo;s largest apartment builder &ndash; Hutchies had 3,820 housing starts, followed by Multiplex with 3,486 starts.

Despite Covid, the 28th annual HIA&ndash;Colorbond&reg; steel Housing 100 Report 2019/20 survey showed that the number of new home starts by the nation&rsquo;s largest 100 builders increased from 67,694 to 69,459.

The strength in new home sales is not occurring evenly across the states

House and land package buyers expect to be ahead pricewise on construction completion:  HIA

Macroprudential measures are likely to feature in the property market cycle, according to Pete Wargent, co-founder of BuyersBuyers.com.au. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;Although there are a lot of variables, property investors should be aware that if activity accelerates sharply then the market regulator is quite likely to step in,&quot; the buyers&#39; agent said.

&quot;We recommend that investors prepare accordingly&rdquo; Mr Wargent said, adding the timing and extent of measures are unknown.

Wargent said investors need to be aware of the potential for changes to lending standards.

&quot;It will be substantially harder to get a loan,&quot; he said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3260 project_image_fid=62343] 
&nbsp; 
&quot;We know from recent history that the regulators won&rsquo;t want investor lending to run too hot, so it makes sense for investors to prepare accordingly rather than be surprised by restrictions as and when they do happen&rdquo;. 
&nbsp; 
Doron Peleg, CEO of Riskwise Property agreed that macroprudential tightening was a likelihood during the current cycle, as low mortgage rates encourage a surge in property investment. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;Based on our analysis and previous events (particularly the measures implemented in 2017), the likelihood that such measures will be implemented within the next 12 months is relatively high&rdquo; Mr Peleg said. 
&nbsp; 
However, Peleg pointed out that at this point of time there are only indications regarding the nature of these measures being a combination of:&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
-changes to the &#39;floor assessment&#39; rate at the individual loan level; 
&nbsp; 
- LVR restrictions or caps at the portfolio level 
&nbsp; 
-potential debt-to-income (DTI) ratio restrictions at the portfolio level.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
&ldquo;Since recent cycles have suggested that property investor activity tends to amplify the property market cycles, it is likely that credit restrictions would significantly stymy growth, if not cause the market to stall or decline moderately&rdquo; Mr Peleg said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5490 project_image_fid=78497]

BuyersBuyers.com.au, an IT marketplace connecting homebuyers with buyer&rsquo;s agents, was co-founded by chief executive Doron Peleg and chief operating officer Pete Wargent.

Peter Meek, formerly managing director of Chobani holds a board advisory role.

The board announced the completion of its Series A funding round which will help the the platform&#39;s leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML).

Crevan Murphy of tech firm SafetyCulture and will assist with advisory on technology and product development.

The investment round was led by George Barnett of Atlassian.

Pete Wargent of BuyersBuyers.com.au said the regulators won’t want investor lending to run too hot

Property investors should prepare for macroprudential measures: Pete Wargent

A two bedroom Surry Hills apartment fetched $1.555 million at its online weekend auction.

It was set on level three of the Foveaux Apartments at 301/81 Foveaux Street (pictured).&nbsp;

The apartment was designed by Adam Haddow of SJB with tailored interiors by Iain Halliday of BKH with bold colours, timber floors, floor to ceiling glass and high ceilings.

It comes with banquette dining and custom kitchen joinery with indoor-outdoor living with a Northern aspect.

It comes with a car space and basement storage in the development featuring 53 residential apartments and four retail shops.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7363]

The apartment and balcony total 90sqm, with 110sqm including car space and storage

Its quarterly strata levies sit at $1,766.

It was sold by Dean Applegate at Laing &amp; Simmons having first sold at $1,265,000 in 2014.

It was shortly after $17.6 million development approval was given for the Legion Cabs site.

Some 44 of 53 apartments in The Foveaux sold at its September 2014 launch by former fashion boss Danny Avidan and his development partner Rafi Asouline.

They bought the 1370sq m site in 2013 at a heated auction for $18 million.

Unit prices in the five-level building start from $700,000 for a one bedroom, $995,000 for a two-bedroom and $1.5 million for a three-bedder.

It was expected to be completed in 2016, but settlements were in May 2017.

Sydney saw 172 weekend auction apartment results with a 74 percent success rate for its apartments and townhouse listings.

Nationally there were 468 results across all the capital cities with a 68 percent success rate and a $750,000 apartment median price.

The two bedroom apartment is positioned on level three of the Foveaux Apartments designed by Adam Haddow of SJB 

SJB-designed Surry Hills offering tops Sydney weekend apartment sales

Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

Jonathan Chancellor

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