Developed by Tian An LFD, Auburn Square boasts the ultimate liveability in the heart of western Sydney.

Designed by&nbsp;Rothelowman, the development&rsquo;s design provides perfectly considered spaces to deliver a sense of community, with facilities including an expansive rooftop, communal dining areas, outdoor fitness equipment, all while overlooking cityscape views.

Urban takes a look at eight reasons why Auburn Square should be on your shortlist.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7317]

<h2>1. Developed by Tian An LFD</h2>

The project is being developed by Tian An LFD, one&nbsp;of Australia&rsquo;s oldest listed property developers.&nbsp; With a strong track record of quality residential development in key markets on the west and east coasts it is backed&nbsp;by the strength of its Hong Kong-listed shareholder, Tian An China Investments Company.

They have won a number of awards across numerous Sydney and Melbourne projects and remain one of the most sustainable real estate funds in the world.

<h2>2. Designed by the award-winning Rothelowman</h2>

Designed by Rothelowman the vision is to create a place that emphasized liveability and community spaces.

The award winning architecture and design firm has been involved in projects across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

<h2>3. Top level Rooftop amenities</h2>

<a href="/buildings/auburn-square-26-36-northumberland-road-auburn"><img alt="" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/auburn_roof.jpg" /></a>

The expansive rooftop provides a generous dining experience, outdoor fitness equipment, and impressive cityscape views just to name a few.

With an impressive communal rooftop garden, it is comes complete with BBQ areas so you can keep fit and enjoy yourself at the same time.

<h2>4. The Auburn Square Precinct&nbsp;</h2>

Auburn Square is setting a new benchmark for residential developments in Western Sydney, with the precinct design largely inspired by the nearby Auburn Botanical Gardens. It is home&nbsp;all aspects of life and family with lush green surrounds through the apartments, landscaping, retail precinct and public domain.

Auburn Square&rsquo;s 2,000 sqm of green space offers privacy and serenity for residents to enjoy with friends and family.

Auburn is a hub of connectivity situated in the geographical heart of Sydney. It offers great transport accessibility to business centres including Parramatta and the CBD. Walk to Auburn train station in 3 minutes or take Parramatta Road and the M4 motorway for direct and easy access further west or into the city.&nbsp;

<a href="/buildings/auburn-square-26-36-northumberland-road-auburn"><img alt="" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/auburn_facade.jpg" /></a>

<h2>5. The West Sydney housing market is on the rise</h2>

There is no end of demand from home buyers and investors who want to live in Sydney&rsquo;s gentrifying inner Western suburbs.

In fact Sydney as a whole in on the rise, having turned around from the coronavirus induced slump that occurred throughout much of 2020.

<h2>6. Affordable priced one, two and three bedroom apartments.</h2>

<a href="/buildings/auburn-square-26-36-northumberland-road-auburn"><img alt="" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/auburn_interior.jpg" /></a>

Home buyers can enjoy a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment in Auburn Square for as low as $505,000, or a two bedroom unit for $600,000,&nbsp;well&nbsp;below the $730,000 median apartment price for Sydney.&nbsp;

Also within a more than reasonable price range, three bedroom homes start at&nbsp;$837,000.

A number of economists predict the battle between banks for new customers and the successful rollout of the coronavirus vaccine may super-charge even the national property market.

<h2>7. HomeBuilder Eligible </h2>

Auburn Square is one of the few Sydney developments eligible for the HomeBuilder Grant extension, potentially saving $15,000 for first home buyers.

<h2>8. Enjoy the view from your future home</h2>

<a href="/buildings/auburn-square-26-36-northumberland-road-auburn"><img alt="" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/auburn_balcony.jpg" /></a>

Holding expansive views toward the CBD and Sydney Olympic park the balconies present a strong case as well as a strong facade.

Developed by Tian An LFD, Auburn Square boasts the ultimate liveability in the heart of western Sydney.

jordan_55689

Eight reasons to consider an apartment in Sydney's Auburn Square

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EXPERT INSIGHT

Australia’s emerging build-to-rent sector is growing — “<a href="https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/build-to-rent-boom">booming</a>” by some accounts with a <a href="https://www.cbre.com.au/about/media-center/australian-btr-pipeline-grows-by-70-in-one-year">70% jump in value in the past year</a>. Under this model, institutional investors develop purpose-built rental apartments to retain and operate under single ownership. In Australia, it will change how apartments are designed and developed, how we are housed and how our tenancies are managed.

With 40 projects under way, an <a href="https://www.cbre.com.au/about/media-center/australian-btr-pipeline-grows-by-70-in-one-year">estimated</a> 15,000 units worth more than A$10 billion are in the pipeline. Site availability has made Melbourne popular, with over 50% of the national market. Investors are active in Sydney, Perth and Queensland too.

Sought-after neighbourhoods are earmarked for large developments. Many have 300 or more units, most at market-rate rents.

Build-to-rent is new to our shores, but hardly uncharted territory abroad. In the UK, the sector expanded exponentially from 2013 with government support. It now accounts for <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/%20uploads/attachment_data/file/817037/FT1101_Trends_in_tenure.xlsx">one in five new homes built in England</a> and <a href="https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/housing-london">one in four in London</a>.

In the US, the built-to-rent sector is relatively mature. It makes up almost two-thirds of the rental stock in many of the largest cities. Heavyweight corporate landlords operate <a href="https://www.nmhc.org/research-insight/the-nmhc-50/top-50-lists/2020-top-managers-list/">as many as 400,000 units each</a>.

In Australia, we need more data and more informed public debate to guide tax, design, planning and tenancy reforms to secure the best possible urban and social outcomes from the build-to-rent expansion.

The build-to-rent promise

Build-to-rent presents an enticing vision. For households, it promises several things:

<ul>
<li>
	flexible long-term tenancies
	</li>
	<li>
	client-centric onsite management
	</li>
	<li>
	hotel-style amenities and services
	</li>
	<li>
	allowances for <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-i-have-a-pet-and-be-housed-too-it-all-depends-155202">pets</a> and personalisation, such as painting and decorating.
	</li>
</ul>
<figure class="align-center "> </figure>For cities, the model promises high-amenity, well-located, purpose-built rental apartments that cater to diverse and changing housing needs.

Proponents hail build-to-rent as a win-win. It’s seen as a salve for various housing woes, including concerns about housing <a href="https://www.ahuri.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/13242/AHURI-Final-Report-281-Housing-supply-responsiveness-in-Australia-distribution-drivers-and-institutional-settings.pdf">supply</a>, <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/housing-affordability-already-declining-across-the-nation-on-the-cusp-of-being-obliterated-1031061/">affordability</a>, the <a href="https://www.rentingcommissioner.vic.gov.au/the-rental-sector/key-issues">private rental sector</a> (including insecure tenancies and inexpert property and tenancy management) and <a href="https://theconversation.com/dealing-with-apartment-defects-a-how-to-guide-for-strata-owners-and-buyers-150292;%20https://theconversation.com/life-in-a-windowless-box-the-vertical-slums-of-melbourne-41181">apartment quality</a>.

Since the COVID-19 downturn, the model has been <a href="https://www.budget.vic.gov.au/place-call-home-victorias-big-housing-build">hailed</a> as an economic lifeline too: good for the construction sector, good for jobs.

Rise of a new asset class

For build-to-rent investors, the rental revenue returns appear relatively modest. Under current market conditions, however, secure margins and “lower (but) for longer” investment prospects appeal.

Advocates continue to push for <a href="https://urbis.com.au/insights-news/build-to-rent-stimulating-recovery-ensuring-resilience/;%20https://www.allens.com.au/globalassets/pdfs/campaigns/accelerating-build-to-rent-march19.pdf">tax reforms</a>. They point to a growing “<a href="https://info.propertycouncil.com.au/property-australia-blog/build-to-rent-growth-spurt-ahead">weight of capital</a>” awaiting more enticing returns. But many international <a href="https://theurbandeveloper.com/articles/oxford-gurner-move-on-melbourne-build-to-rent">build-to-rent behemoths</a>, superannuation/pension funds, private equity firms and real estate investment trusts are entering our private rental sector regardless.

Institutional investors’ entry into our rental sector contributes to a broader paradigm shift in urban housing systems dubbed the <a href="https://www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1468-2427.12522">financialisation</a> of (rental) housing.

States have endorsed build-to-rent, improving its viability with <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-nsw-is-skewing-its-tax-system-toward-build-to-rent-apartments-and-away-from-mum-and-pop-landlords-143594">land tax concessions</a>, exemption from foreign investor surcharges, privileged planning pathways and pilot projects (e.g. <a href="https://www.treasury.qld.gov.au/programs-and-policies/build-to-rent-pilot-project/">in Queensland</a>). The federal government’s position has been more ambiguous.

Crucially, the rise of build-to-rent sets in motion two important structural shifts

<ol>
<li>
	institutionalising the private rental sector
	</li>
	<li>
	diversifying residential development models.
	</li>
</ol>
Historically, <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/901-Housing-affordability.pdf">small-portfolio “mum and dad” landlords</a> have owned and managed our rental stock. They are motivated by many of the same benefits (such as tax concessions and capital gains) and exposed to the same risks as owner-occupiers.

So we’ve had a high degree of integration between the private rental and owner-occupier sectors: few dwellings were purpose-built for renting and most homes were readily interchangeable between sectors.

Build to rent disrupts this integration. It replaces the fragmented ownership of apartment buildings under strata title laws with a single institutional owner.

Build to rent also diverges from familiar speculative build-to-sell development geared towards short-term profits. Its longer-term investment horizons give developers a new incentive to minimise a building’s running costs and to create apartments that appeal to and retain tenants.

So will it deliver?

Will build to rent provide high-quality, high-amenity, professionally managed rental homes? And at what scale, for how long, and at what costs to whom?

In the longer term, will this model disrupt the socio-political <a href="https://theconversation.com/three-reasons-the-government-promotes-home-ownership-for-older-australians-80200">twinning of home ownership and home</a>?

<hr>
Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/ideas-of-home-and-ownership-in-australia-might-explain-the-neglect-of-renters-rights-104849">Ideas of home and ownership in Australia might explain the neglect of renters’ rights</a> 

<hr>
Could build to rent be a catalyst for more progressive tenancy reforms, leading towards tenure neutrality/equality where ownership isn’t seen as automatically superior to renting?

These questions matter. <a href="https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/home-ownership-and-housing-tenure">One in three</a> Australian households now rent their housing. Some <a href="https://theconversation.com/retiree-home-ownership-is-about-to-plummet-soon-little-more-than-half-will-own-where-they-live-115255">argue</a> we’re headed for a “post-ownership” society in which most people rent their homes.

<figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img alt="chart showing changes in proportions of households by tenure type" sizes=" 600px) 600px, 237px" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=384&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=483&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=483&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388738/original/file-20210310-21-71surk.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=483&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w"></a>
</figure>Private rental was once a route to ownership. Now it’s a destination. Ownership has been delayed, become unattainable or been <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-wouldnt-want-to-buy-even-if-i-had-the-money-the-rise-of-renters-by-choice-130696">“traded off” for flexibility</a> and being able to live in desirable locations.

Tenants are also <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14036096.2018.1467964">more diverse</a>. There are more lower-income and higher-income earners and more families than ever before.

Renters endure short leases on often <a href="https://theconversation.com/chilly-house-mouldy-rooms-heres-how-to-improve-low-income-renters-access-to-decent-housing-116749">poorly maintained</a> properties owned by a cottage industry of “mum and dad” landlords. Social housing options are few and far between in a sector that has been marginalised and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.ahuri.edu.au/research/final-reports/108">residualised</a>. More renters, <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-had-rent-control-in-wartime-war-on-coronavirus-demands-the-same-response-135694">uncapped rents</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/an-open-letter-on-rental-housing-reform-103825">weak tenant protections</a> and <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-24/wage-price-index-abs/13187102">stagnating wages</a> make for a toxic mix of <a href="https://theconversation.com/australia-had-rent-control-in-wartime-war-on-coronavirus-demands-the-same-response-135694">housing stress</a> and financial risk.

<hr>
Read more: <a href="https://theconversation.com/build-to-rent-could-be-the-missing-piece-of-the-affordable-housing-puzzle-82320">'Build to rent' could be the missing piece of the affordable housing puzzle</a> 

<hr>
Reasons to proceed with caution

We don’t have robust evidence to answer these questions, but limited evidence suggests caution is well advised.

In Australia, build-to-rent properties look set to attract rents of about <a href="https://www.afr.com/property/residential/rental-only-apartments-test-tenants-appetite-in-a-weak-market-20200804-p55iij">10-15% more</a> than comparable non-BTR housing, just <a href="https://www.colliers.com/en-gb/news/09-07-18-firm-evidence-that-build-to-rent-schemes-command-higher-rents">as they have in London</a>. Without government subsidies, market-rate BTR <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/documents/558/LCOM_0000_Build_to_Rent_Report_WEB.pdf">will not provide more affordable housing</a>.

Overseas, these rental premiums, alongside planning leniency (which reduced the affordable housing required of these developments), have been blamed for <a href="https://www.ft.com/2020living">poor outcomes</a>, such as residents being priced out of neighbourhoods they could once afford.

In Ireland, permissive planning concessions enable build-to-rent developers to circumvent design standards. This has <a href="https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/15f0b-design-standards-for-new-apartments-dsfna-2018/">raised concerns</a> that build-to-rent may deliver smaller, less diverse and lower-amenity housing (less storage, for example) than standard build-to-sell development.

In New South Wales, BTR developments <a href="https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-02/Treasurer%E2%80%99s%20Guidelines%20for%20the%20Reduction%20in%20Land%20Value%20for%20Certain%20Build-to-rent%20Properties%2C%20for%20Land%20Tax%20Purposes.pdf">cannot be subdivided for 15 years</a> (without clawback of land tax concessions). This ensures buildings remain in use as rental stock for that period. But what will happen after that?

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/megan-nethercote-156060">Megan Nethercote</a>, ARC DECRA Fellow at the Centre for Urban Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a>

This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/build-to-rent-surge-will-change-apartment-living-for-australians-but-for-better-or-worse-154839">original article</a>.
</body></html>

In Australia, we need more data and more informed public debate to guide tax, design, planning and tenancy reforms to secure the best possible outcome for build-to-rent

Build-to-rent surge will change apartment living for Australians but for better or worse?

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EXPERT INSIGHT

Among the many explanations put forward for <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australia-first-home-buyers-priced-out-of-property-market-by-extreme-offers/d7de770f-c492-46fa-a774-bda0ea45718e">soaring home prices</a>, one we hear repeatedly is <a href="https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/zoning-rules-cost-home-buyers-a-fortune--and-itll-get-worse-says-rba-20180308-h0x6uh">zoning</a> — the regulations that govern the purposes for which land can be used, including how densely people can be housed in different locations.

The real estate industry says if only we <a href="https://udia.com.au/media-release/housing-affordability-woes-need-solutions/">relaxed the zoning rules</a> and allowed more houses and apartments to be built on each block, housing would be cheaper, maybe A$355,000 per unit cheaper if the <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2020/pdf/rdp2020-04.pdf">Reserve Bank</a> is right.

It’s a story as grounded in simplicity as it is (on the part of developers) in self-interest.

The simple story is that zoning regulations restrict development, restricted development means restricted supply of houses and apartments, and restricted supply means higher prices. Scrap the planning laws, the argument goes, and property developers will shower the market with housing, driving down prices.

So effective is the mantra it has become part of the official story in <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fixing-our-broken-housing-market">Britain</a> and the <a href="https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2020/04/06/no-more-picket-fences-how-sb50-could-have-solved-the-california-housing-crisis/">United States</a>, and to <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2020/pdf/rdp2020-04.pdf">some extent</a> here.

What’s missing is evidence.

Studies which point the finger at the planning system almost universally fail to quantify the extent of housing permitted by planning regulations and how it has changed over time.

Rarely have changes in zoning been examined

Analysis by Australia’s <a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/rdp/2018/pdf/rdp2018-03.pdf">Reserve Bank</a> for example, treats zoning rules as though they exist in stasis; an ever-present yet spatially-varied regulation measured by whatever price remains once structure and land values are subtracted.

Our <a href="https://osf.io/zkt7v/">new research</a> fills the gap by measuring changes in zoning at the level of individual properties in greater Brisbane.

<figure class="align-right zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img alt="" sizes=" 600px) 600px, 237px" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=970&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=970&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=970&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1219&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1219&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/388744/original/file-20210310-20-synd5d.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=1219&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w"></a>

<figcaption>The 19 Brisbane centres studied.
</figcaption></figure>We examined 20 years of changes to zoning, housing supply and prices across more than 25,000 sites in 19 major centres subject to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2399808320951583">repeated</a> zoning changes designed to encourage urban infill.

The centres had within them a wide variety of land use types (detached dwellings, medium-density dwellings, commercial and retail use, etc.) and housing densities. We reviewed and mapped historic and current rules to determine how the zoned capacity changed on each site.

We combined this with data on the changes in land use on each site, changes to the actual supply of dwellings, and property prices.

If the semi-official story was true, we would have expected increases in zoned capacity to lead to falling prices.

Our results show no such thing. Locations with increased zoned capacity for housing saw increased (not reduced) property prices. Across the selected sites, houses increased in value by a factor of three and apartments by 2.3 over the two decades studied, as they did elsewhere in Australia.

Weaker zoning, not weaker prices

During this time, the zoned capacity for housing at these locations doubled. But there was no rush to take up the increase in capacity.

The vast majority of sites (94%) were not developed within five years of the zoning changes.

Even after 20 years, 71% of the extra capacity remained unexploited.

We found evidence for an alternative story: that planning regulations permit development, but it is the market price that determines if and where development occurs.

Higher sales prices make development more feasible.

Under this story, developers select their sites, build, and sell in strong markets and wait or avoid selling when markets are weak.

This partly explains why locations with highest initial property prices were the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/08111146.2020.1792284">most likely</a> to be developed.

Like all good stories, the semi-official one contains an element of truth. If the planning system failed to allow for enough growth, it would almost certainly drive up prices.

Rarely is supply a problem

To avoid this, planning authorities go to <a href="https://planning.dsdmip.qld.gov.au/planning/better-planning/state-planning/regional-plans/seqrp/lsdm">great lengths</a> to ensure there is enough zoned capacity to cater for projected growth.

This is one reason why we <a href="https://osf.io/r925z">don’t have a housing supply problem</a>. Deregulating the planning system won’t change that, but nor will it ease price pressure.

What it will do is reduce the environmental and other benefits zoning provides, while continuing to allow developers to sell properties at times <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1051137720300449">of their choosing</a>.

What is driving up house prices now has little to do with zoning, and it is happening worldwide.

Throughout the globe we have seen increases in easy access to cheap credit and tax regimes that encourage speculative property investment.

Unlike planning regulations, which vary hugely by location, these macroeconomic factors are common. They help explain why the housing affordability crisis transcends national boundaries.

It is the liberalisation of finance and the treatment of housing as an investment product that got us into this mess. Further liberalisation of planning regulations is unlikely to get us out.<img alt="The Conversation" height="1" jfhjlrx="" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/154482/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1" yyupy4q2g="" z="">

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-limb-1185405">Mark Limb</a>, Lecturer in Urban and Regional Planning, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/queensland-university-of-technology-847">Queensland University of Technology</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/cameron-murray-172480">Cameron Murray</a>, Research Fellow - Henry Halloran Trust, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a>

This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/zoning-isnt-to-blame-for-australias-soaring-house-prices-154482">original article</a>.
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Studies which point the finger at the planning system almost universally fail to quantify the extent of housing permitted by planning regulations and how it has changed over time

Zoning isn’t to blame for Australia’s soaring house prices

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The Urban Taskforce welcomed today’s announcement that the Government will adopt all 29 of the NSW Productivity Commission’s recommendations into infrastructure contributions (full list of the recommendations is over leaf).

This decision announced by Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Planning Rob Stokes is very welcome news.  With JobKeeper about to end, the changes recommended by the NSW Productivity Commission will help stimulate investment in jobs in the property development and construction sector. The Government, through the NSW Productivity Commission, has consulted with all stakeholders, developed a plan and has now committed to its implementation in full.

This is a clear sign that the NSW Government has been listening to the concerns raised by the Urban Taskforce and our members regarding fees taxes and charges associated with local and state infrastructure.  There is much more to be done in planning reform, as the Productivity Commission’s Green Paper (a separate Review) makes clear, but today’s announcement represents strong progress.

<ul>
<li>Councils rate pegs will now be adjusted to take into account population growth – meaning Councils won’t be punished for approving the construction of new homes anymore.</li>
	<li>Councils and State Government agencies will be banned from gold-plating infrastructure at the expense of new home buyers by allowing IPART to set benchmark costs for infrastructure. Contribution plans will be set prior to the rezoning of land.  This will be a major change and will limit windfall profits from speculative landowners as all the fees and charges will be able to be factored into the purchase price.</li>
	<li>Infrastructure Contributions will not be paid until the new building is completed and ready for occupation. This is a major change from the current requirement to pay s.7.11 fees up front. This will free up cash-flow to get projects going.</li>
	<li>Broadening the tax base for “SIC” infrastructure levies which will apply to State Government (s.7.24) infrastructure so the burden is shifted away, to some extent, from new home buyers.</li>
	<li>Reducing the cost of water connections to new properties by restricting Water Service providers to charge only the actual cost of the connection.</li>
	<li>Improving the digital tools to allow for user friendly calculations for all Government fees and charges.</li>
	<li>Hold Councils accountable for the levies they collect and their expenditure on infrastructure. 
	 </li>
</ul>
Value capture will be actively curtailed and planning agreements will be limited to the recovery of infrastructure development costs that are directly associated with the proposed development.

There is more to be done to boost the number of approvals and relieve the current boom in new home prices – but this is a tremendous step in the right direction and just what the economy needed as we move out of the COVID-19 recession.
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The NSW Government will adopt all 29 of the NSW Productivity Commission’s recommendations into infrastructure contributions

NSW Government adopts every single productivity commission infrastructure recommendation: Urban Taskforce

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Whether entertaining or staying fit, outdoor areas are important to residents’ quality of life.

On-site outdoor areas do not only provide convenient access to landscaped gardens but help foster a sense of community between residents and increase home values.

Here are sixteen properties in Victoria with fantastic alfresco dining areas.

1. Moreville, Footscray 
Address: 12-18 Napier Street, Footscray VIC 3011 
Two-bedroom apartments from $595,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2060]

Designed by Moull Murray Architects, the six-storey building offers numerous amenities, including an al fresco coffee shop, rooftop residents’ lounge and barbeque terrace with views to the Melbourne city skyline.

2. Sandy Hill Penthouse, Sandringham 
Address: 222 Bay Road, Sandringham VIC 3191 
Three-bedroom penthouse from $1,950,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=324]

Perched atop the ninth floor of the Master Builders Association award-winning complex, the three-bedroom penthouse is ideal for entertaining family and friends and includes a wrap-around terrace that boasts stunning views out to the bay, city and Dandenong Ranges. 

3. Luma, Sunshine North 
Address: 347 St Albans Road, Sunshine North VIC 3020 
Two-bedroom townhomes from $560,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27783]

Delivered by Development Victoria and designed by RobertsDay, Luma is a new masterplanned community with a collection of 300 townhomes.

4. Avenue, Brighton East 
Address: 14 Gleniffer Avenue, Brighton East VIC 3187 
Three-bedroom townhouses from $2,290,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=29935]

Delivered by Skelton and designed by innovative architecture practice ADDARC, Avenue engages with Japanese-influenced charred timber and production-grade zinc to create a moody and modern home. The development features a lush private garden designed by renowned Jack Merlo.

5. Verre, Preston 
Address: 296 Plenty Road, Preston VIC 3072 
Three bedroom residences from $815,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7275]

Located in Melbourne’s Preston, Verre is the latest offering from Wolf&amp;Lamb. The Chamberlain Architects designed residences feature rooftop terrace offering a space to host friends or relax against the balcony.

6. Parkhill Apartments, West Melbourne 
Address: 408 Spencer Street, West Melbourne VIC 3003 
Two bedroom residences from $619,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27406]

Central Equity's latest development, Parkhill Apartments features both a rooftop gym and relaxing rooftop garden, complete with BBQs and outdoor seating, with views of the Melbourne skyline.

7. K1 Residences, Melbourne 
Address: 1 Union Street, Melbourne VIC 3004 
Four bedroom residences from $2,590,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2772]

Setting a new benchmark for luxury residences in Victoria, K1 Residences offers buyers the chance to secure a bespoke, whole-floor residence with panoramic views.

8. Hurstmon, Malvern East 
Address: 3 Hurstmon Street, Malvern East VIC 3145 
Two-bedroom apartments from $795,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4807]

Landreams Hurstmon, designed by Telha Clarke, is a 39 residence development surrounded by stately trees and lush, established gardens.

9. Folia, Doncaster 
Address: 59 Stables Circuit, Doncaster VIC 3108 
Two-bedroom apartments from $580,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22584]

Located within Mirvac’s masterplanned community, Tullamore, Folia provides over 100 apartments with idyllic parks and gardens.

10. Sky Garden, Glen Waverley 
Address: 227 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley VIC 3150 
Two-bedroom apartments from $668,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881]

Developed by Golden Age, Sky Garden is the latest mixed-use development in Melbourne’s Glen Waverley. Its features include a sky garden, private cinema, gym, heated lap pool and private library.

11. Hawthorn Park, Hawthorn East 
Address: 33 Camberwell road, Hawthorn East VIC 3123 
Two-bedroom apartment from $670,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3730]

Behind the five buildings that make up Hawthorn Park are hidden garden vistas and abundant green space for dining outside.

12. Awaken, Brighton 
Address: 30-32 Roding Street, Brighton VIC 3186 
Two-bedroom apartments from $1,150,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30087]

Delivered by SKELTLON, the collection of 13 townhomes, designed by celebrated Melbourne architect, Travis Walton, feature spacious outdoor courtyards with plenty of space for alfresco dining.

13. The Fabric, Altona North 
Address: 188-198 Blackshaws Road, Altona North VIC 3025 
Two-bedroom apartment from $695,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699]

Mirvac’s The Fabric delivers a vibrant masterplanned community with an emphasis on green spaces. The future Patchwork Park, designed for all ages, will be right outside your doorstep.

14. Tullamore Homes, Doncaster 
Address: 11 Heritage Boulevard, Doncaster VIC 3108 
Four-bedroom townhomes from $1,450,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22803]

Sharing the same space as Folia, mentioned earlier, Tullamore Homes benefits from the vast open space in a masterplanned community, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the estate.

15. Sixth Avenue, Chelsea Heights 
Address: 15 Sixth Avenue, Chelsea Heights VIC 3196 
Two-bedroom townhouses from $599,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32136]

Realise exceptional coastal living at Aultun Group's Sixth Avenue in sought-after Chelsea Heights, home to an endless array of retail, dining and recreational amenities as well as two-storey designs and expansive private courtyards.

16. Melbourne Square, Southbank 
Address: 93-119 Kavanagh Street, Southbank VIC 3006 
Two bedroom residences from $642,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929]

OSK Property have recently launched a brand new boutique collection of homes at Melbourne Square. Amenities include a full-line Woolworths and other shops as well as resort-style facilities including pools, sauna, spa, gymnasium and a yoga room.
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On-site outdoor areas do not only provide convenient access to landscaped gardens but help foster a sense of community between residents and increase home values

Autumnal alfresco dining: 16 homes in Victoria with the best outdoor dining facilities

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Over the past decade smart home technology including the likes of Alexa has been on the rise. However, even before we started adding AI assistants via external devices, a number of blue-ribbon houses and apartments were incorporating in-built assistance.

For example, automated climate control, entertainment devices and appliances. As well as automatic monitoring and adjusting devices to save energy.

Now hitting its stride in terms of cost efficiency and effectiveness, smart home technology is the latest and greatest way to optimise your home to match your living habits and to potentially save you money.

Bensons Property Group's Liberty One is the latest development to feature smart home technology at the fore.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=709]

The Footscray development comprises 350 one and two-bedroom apartments starting from an affordable $396,000.

Designed by CHT Architects, the functional design boasts floor-to-ceiling windows, open-plan living space and private balconies, as well as amenities including a residents’ lounge, gym and outdoor cinema.

Also featuring car parking across four basement levels, the development supported by 10 retail tenancies at ground level.

Cutting edge smart home features include a fully integrated system allowing for seamless control over your appliances through your phone or tablet as well as keyless entry. 

Also included is an integrated intercom to smartphone app. Surveillance and security for your home has never been easier.

<a href="/buildings/liberty-one-1-warde-street-footscray"><img alt="" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/liberty_one_outside.jpg"></a>

Located in the heart of Footscray's rapidly-evolving Joseph Road Precinct at 1 Warde Street, the building rises 24-storeys.

Before the end of March first home buyers can save upwards of $23,000 on a home in Liberty One

<h2>Other Developments Featuring Smart Home Technology:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3459]
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Bensons Property Group's Liberty One is the latest development paving the way with premium smart home technology

The rise of smart home technology in new Melbourne apartments

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EXPERT INSIGHT

Despite the pandemic, Australia is in the midst of a hugely competitive auction market. Sydney, in particular, is experiencing dizzying auction clearance rates and the Reserve Bank’s decision this week to keep interest rates extraordinarily low will no doubt keep auctioneers busy.

If you’ve ever taken part in an auction, you’ll know emotions can run high, and sometimes drive us to bid more than originally intended.

Our paper, published in the journal <a href="https://cognitiveresearchjournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s41235-020-00259-w">Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications</a>, found the way auctions are designed and run can vastly increase competitive arousal in bidders.

That’s obviously valuable information for sellers. But if you’re a buyer, the good news is there’s a lot you can do to ensure your competitive spirit doesn’t leave you with a bad case of buyer’s remorse.

To see just how far people were willing to go to win, we studied people’s behaviour in one of the most competitive bidding environments possible: a Dutch auction.

What is a Dutch auction?

<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/d/dutchauction.asp">Dutch auctions</a> are a special auction format where the price starts unrealistically high and then comes down in increments and the first person to bid wins.

Originating in the Netherlands for the rapid sale of perishable goods such as flowers, these auctions are fast, exciting and ultra-competitive. Bidders put everything on the line with the timing of a single bid.

Bidders must trade-off between certainty and price: bid early to secure the item and you pay top dollar; bid later at a lower price and you risk losing to another bidder.

Dutch auctions run this way are not common in the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-04/dutch-auctions-a-grey-area-in-real-estate-industry/9614392">Australian property market</a>, but by studying how people behave in them we can learn a bit about how competitive spirit influences decision-making in other settings.

A strong sense of competitive spirit may be a <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/comment/887180#comment-887180">human trait</a> honed by years of evolution, but in a heightened competitive environment you may become more willing to take risks you otherwise would not.

You might find your focus drifting toward a different (and possibly dangerous) form of motivation — the desire to win at all costs.

Burning through the budget

Our recent study looked at people’s bidding behaviours during a series of simulated Dutch auctions where we asked participants to imagine being managers of a warehouse.

They were asked to bid against their competitors to buy goods and fill up their warehouse, while staying within their allocated budget.

By bidding early, they stood a better chance of filling up their warehouse quickly but risked paying too much for the goods and running out of money before the warehouse was full. Wait too long and they risked losing the chance to buy stock at all, and watching it go into their competitors’ rapidly-filling warehouses.

In this tense environment, we found people were willing to sacrifice a better long term financial outcome for the sake of simply beating their competitors. In other words, they often burned through their budget too quickly just to “win”.

People initially made well placed and reasonably priced bids early in the auction series.

As the auctions continued, however, we watched participants place bids that unnecessarily, and perhaps irrationally, drained their budget for the sake of a short term victory.

Three ways to win without losing in the long term

Our study helps shed light on bidder behaviour in lots of markets, whether it is property, eBay, auction houses or any setting where the competitive spirit can take hold.

If you’re attending an auction, and don’t want to be a winner who loses in the long term, here are three ways to avoid falling victim to your own competitive spirit:

<ol>
<li>
	be aware that your decisions when in “competition mode” can push you past your budget. Separating the emotion from the decision can help minimise your risk of overspending.
	</li>
	<li>
	set your spending limit before you start and know when to stop. Our findings suggest that competition can easily drag us past that point. While winning is nice, it can also be a curse.
	</li>
	<li>
	give a friend your budget and have them bid for you. Beware their sporting nature, though; they might also be tempted by the thrill of victory.<img alt="The Conversation" eibjtljsu="" height="1" neutgmxam="" nh14kg3yh="" ns="" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/156371/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" width="1">
	</li>
</ol>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/murray-bennett-1207043">Murray Bennett</a>, PhD candidate, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a>

This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-the-competitive-spirit-can-take-over-in-auctions-and-how-you-can-stay-in-control-156371">original article</a>.
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Why the competitive spirit can take over in auctions and how to stay in control

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Charter Hall Group (Charter Hall or Group) has partnered with global real estate investor QuadReal, to acquire one of the largest remaining Brisbane CBD development sites, located within the heart of the North Quay renewal precinct.

This acquisition further extends the Charter Hall and QuadReal partnership following the 2019 $630 million acquisition of 201 Elizabeth Street, Sydney, by securing an underdeveloped site and providing optionality for two simultaneously submitted planning applications, which propose either a twin or single tower development.

Charter Hall Managing Director and Group CEO, Mr David Harrison, said “We are delighted to extend our relationship with QuadReal, one of Canada’s largest property groups."

QuadReal Head of Asia, Mr Peter Kim, said “Australia remains a key focus for QuadReal, and the North Quay investment is a direct product of the long-term strategic relationship we have with Charter Hall in that market."

Charter Hall has taken a flexible approach and lodged two Development Applications (DAs) with Brisbane City Council for 309 North Quay — a significant, 6,400sqm infill site located in the Roma Street Urban Renewal Priority Development Area. This development will further enhance the North Quay precinct of the CBD as it undergoes significant revitalisation. 

The proposed project, which comprises a DA for a single 50,000sqm commercial tower and a separate DA for two smaller commercial towers of 23,000 sqm &amp; 36,000 sqm each, will act as a catalyst for urban renewal of the surrounding sites, including Roma Street Station — Brisbane’s new ‘Grand Central Station’ made possible with Cross River Rail, Brisbane Metro and the proposed Brisbane Live the city’s new entertainment arena. 

The strategically positioned site and previous long-term home of Triple M and B105, is the gateway into the CBD from Coronation Drive, North Quay and the William Jolly Bridge, with uninterrupted views of the Brisbane River and a short walk to the city’s leading entertainment, dining and lifestyle precincts including Queen Street Mall, Suncorp Stadium, The Barracks, Roma Street Parklands, the Queensland Cultural Centre and South Bank.
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Charter Hall has acquired one of the largest remaining Brisbane CBD development sites, located within the heart of the North Quay renewal precinct

Charter Hall submits DAs for Brisbane CBD riverfront site

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Amid ongoing uncertainty in the global markets due to COVID-19 it remains low rates as usual for the RBA, who kept the official cash rate at 0.10 percent for another month.

Their recently released chart pack, which details figures from the world economy to Australia's financial figures, yielded interesting information about the Australian property situation

Private residential building approvals has continued to soar, up once again in February as seen below.

<img alt="" height="339" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/rba_chart_1.jpg" width="407">

This trend continues to be driven by growth in the detached housing sector which can be attributed to the HomeBuilder grant among other government initiatives

<img alt="" height="357" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/rba_chart_2.jpg" width="396">

There continues to be a gap between household consumption and disposable income.

A household's disposable income hadn't been higher than its consumption since 2014.

This is in sharp contrast to the current Covid-19 effected situation.

Housing price growth can be seen to have come out of a dip with APM recording the smallest falls as seen below. 

<img alt="" height="313" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/rba_chart_3.jpg" width="401">

Residex and CoreLogic data showed that for the year to February home price growth near zeroed out.

Housing loan commitments continue to soar to new record highs, levels well beyond the 2015 and 2017 highs.

<img alt="" height="353" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/rba_chart_4.jpg" width="393">

This trend is similarly driven by government initiatives with owner-occupiers rocking this trend up to $20 billion in commitments.

Investor's have also been investing further although clearly not to a similar level as many lack incentive in this current low supply, high demand market.
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Data showed that for the year to February home price growth near zeroed out, however a growth spike seems to be on the horizon

House prices hold steady and ready for turnaround: RBA 

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Whether entertaining or staying fit, outdoor areas are a vital part of residents’ quality of life.

On-site outdoor areas do not only provide convenient access to landscaped gardens but help foster a sense of community between residents and increase home values.

Dining alfresco is also a relaxing and refreshing way to enjoy a meal with friends family or solo.

Dine poolside or on you're balcony at one of these eight properties in Queensland with fantastic outdoor areas.

Urban has taken a look at eight of the best Queensland apartment developments with outdoor areas.

1. Chevron One, Surfers Paradise 
Address: 36-44 Stanhill Drive, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 
Two-bedroom apartments from $705,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515]

Bensons Property Group are developing Chevron One, a 41 level tower designed in collaboration with Marchese Partners and Byrns Lardner Landscape Architecture which is set to be Chevron Island's first high-rise.

The development has close to 2000 square metres of resort-style amenity, a 24-hour concierge service and 360-degree uninterrupted views that won't be built out. 

The project includes a Club One residents’ lounge, floating cinema, dining facilities and sculpted gardens.

Situated on Stanhill Drive, Chevron One is within walking distance to Thomas Drive cafes and retail shops, Home Of The Arts precinct, and the beach. 

2. Quay Waterfront Newstead 
Address: 57 Skyring Terrace, Newstead QLD 4006 
Two-bedroom apartments from $775,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=90553]

Quay Waterfront Newstead by Mirvac is the latest in riverside living in Brisbane. Set in 5.5 ha of parklands, this biophilic tower weaves garden-green freshness up and around its apartments.

From the rooftop pool and cocktail garden down to the ground floor wellness centre, amenities both indoor and out abound.

One to three bedroom apartments make up a series of boutique neighbourhoods with just seven homes on each level. From level 20, three and four bedroom sky pavilions rise towards the rooftop. 

3. Cello, Greenslopes 
Address: 5-9 Flora Street, Greenslopes QLD 4120 
Two-bedroom apartments from $469,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=28592]

CS Development Group's Cello Apartments, spanning across two striking towers comprises of a selection of one, two and three-bedroom homes, priced from as low as $349,000.

Residents will have access to resort-style facilities including a swimming pool, sauna and spa, a landscaped recreation area and a fully equipped gymnasium. There is also on-site library, or landscape rooftop observation deck providing further outdoor options.

Cello Apartments, set for completion in May is located just four kilometres from the Brisbane CBD.

4. Elegance, Mermaid Beach 
Address: 2605 Gold Coast Highway, Mermaid Beach QLD 4218 
Apartment prices available upon request

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6998]

Developed by United Investment Group, Elegance is the latest development in Mermaid Beach with a key focus on health and wellbeing flavour.

Comprising of two sky towers reaching 47 &amp; 49 levels with 522 apartments together with significant resident facilities, retail, restaurant and café precinct all architected by Raunik Design.

Each tower boasts a rooftop recreational level with BBQ and seating area, perfect for private resident parties or intimate yoga or meditation sessions.

Maximising the majestic views of the Pacific Ocean and Gold Coast hinterlands, Elegance delivers a lifestyle unlike anywhere else.

5. Koko Broadbeach 
Address: 12-14 Elizabeth Avenue, Broadbeach QLD 4218 
Two-bedroom apartments from $729,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6995]

The latest from Morris Property Group, Koko Broadbeach is a 99 residence tower comprising two and three bedroom apartments with sweeping ocean and hinterland views.

Dine poolside or on your balcony with a view located just metres away from the beach itself. The vibrant and connected development is just minutes from the Gold Coast’s walking and cycling paths, stunning beaches and world-class facilities.

Koko features modern fixtures, contemporary design and hotel-quality amenities, including a lap pool, lounges, modern gym facilities, private outdoor entertaining areas and gardens.

6. Mary Lane, Brisbane 
111 Mary Street, Brisbane QLD 4000 
Two-bedroom apartments from $735,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6229]

Sitting in the centre of Brisbane, Mary Lane offers 167 residences in one, two and three-bedroom configurations.

Perched above the Westin Hotel, residents will have access to private amenities, including a residents-only foyer, terrace pool, gym and function room.

Designed by Woods Bagot. Mary Lane’s elegant features, flawless finishes and ability to capture breathtaking views make it a desirable haven.

7. Maya Kirra Beach, Coolangatta 
Address: 1 Coyne Street, Coolangatta QLD 4225 
Four-bedroom apartments from $1,930,00

[smartcode_project:default project_id=21669]

Imbued with cool tones and a contemporary aesthetic, Spyre Group’s Maya Kirra Beach benefits from the abundant Gold Coast sunshine, the alluring coastline and the stunning ocean views.

The residence offers north-facing ocean views from generous balconies, a welcoming lobby, private residents’ dining and a resort-style pool and leisure area. Step outside to the resort-style pool and leisure area, complete with barbeque facilities, beach showers and bathrooms. 

Comprising just 15 units the spacious two and three-bedroom apartments extend over 9 light-filled levels. 

8. Midwater 
Address: 3496 Main Beach Parade, Main Beach QLD 4217 
Two-bedroom apartments from $849,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7356]

Live the latest in Heran Building Group's Midwater Main Beach designed by Cottee Parker Architects.

Spectacular residences are on offer with breathtaking sea views, stunning interior design and luxurious resort-style amenities. 

These include a beachfront infinity pool, smart home automation a fully equipped Well-Being Centre with Gym, outdoor Yoga, Steam &amp; Sauna Facilities plus a great selection of world-class amenities nearby.
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Whether entertaining or staying fit, outdoor areas are a vital part of residents’ quality of life

Outdoor dining at its finest: 8 of Queensland's best apartment terraces

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

&nbsp;

The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

<section data-scroll-anchor="false" data-testid="conversation-turn-4" data-turn="assistant" data-turn-id="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:84a2af5e-d7cf-4ddf-922a-f4d44d6c6caa-1" dir="auto">
The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

Jordan Fidler

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