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Revised plans for one of suburban Melbourne's largest developments that Apartments.com.au <a href="/news/malverns-super-development-site-subject-to-a-considerable-application">touched upon during August</a> are now available for public comment.

The site in question sits adjacent to Malvern Railway Station and has a principal address of 641-675 Dandenong Road. At 4,739 square metres the land holding was offered for sale during 2017, with Kokoda Property subsequently revealed as the purchaser.

Dubbed <a href="https://www.kokodaproperty.com.au/en/residences/malvern/">Malvern Collective</a>, Kokoda Property carries imagery of the initial design on its website. The Jackson Clements Burrows-designed development seen below has been replaced by a more modest revised application which sees lower than initially intended built form across the site.

The highly angular initial design for the scalene-shaped site has also been tempered to resemble more traditional buildings with a 'defined' roof.

<h2>641-675 Dandenong Road application summary</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image89aq.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Dandenong Road perspective. Image: JCB Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="325" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image89aq.jpg?itok=2nJ7-Dtj" title="Dandenong Road perspective. Image: JCB Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Dandenong Road perspective. Image: JCB Architects</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>4,739 square metre site with three street frontages</li>
	<li>Expected build value: $80 million</li>
	<li>Proposed: 17 and 10 storey buildings with the taller at 55.9 metres</li>
	<li>265 apartments: 94 x 1BR, 154 x 2BR, 16 x 3BR, 1 x 4BR</li>
	<li>5 level basement with option for a subterranean link to Malvern Railway Station</li>
	<li>Provisions for 371 vehicles and 203 bicycles</li>
	<li>Existing 'Angel Tavern' to be restored</li>
	<li>7 retail tenancies amounting to 1,137 square metres with ability to increase if required</li>
	<li>753 square metre commercial tenancy</li>
</ul>
Jackson Clements Burrows on Malvern Collective's form:

<blockquote>
The unique qualities of the site have determined the proposals siting, massing and overall form.

With interfaces to Glenferrie Rd, Dandenong Rd, Station Place and the rail corridor to the north, the lower podium is characterised by a series of articulated columns that set the rhythm of the pedestrian experience and whose datum closely aligns to that of the adjacent heritage buildings. The columns also fluctuate in depth to provide protection from traffic to the south, the summer sun to the north and visual privacy on the oblique approach.

The upper forms are conceived as a series of undulating peaks that strategically lower to sensitive interfaces and minimise overshadowing to the south. The chamfered forms allow the implementation of generous east and west facing terraces which offer select apartments ‘gardens in the sky’.

The mostly light coloured curtain walls and associated fins are articulated as the main facade element with the enclosed areas recessed back from the outer envelope. This provides permeability through the extremities of the building and a depth to the facade through the use of light and shadow.
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image92_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The initial Dandenong Road design cited via Kokoda's website"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="259" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image92_8.jpg?itok=bPqY5nnT" title="The initial Dandenong Road design cited via Kokoda's website" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The initial Dandenong Road design cited via Kokoda's website</figcaption></figure><h2>Kokoda Property true to their word when it comes to infill development</h2>

During 2017 Kokoda Property prompted calls for <a href="/news/kokoda-property-calls-for-in-fill-development-in-the-eastern-middle-ring">more in-fill development sites in what it calls "Melbourne’s undersupplied eastern middle-ring"</a> in order to fill the demand for quality apartments and townhomes in the leafy suburbs.

At the time Kokoda Property Sales and Marketing Director Sam Tucker spoke of the underlying demand for apartment developments across Melbourne's eastern middle-ring suburbs, driven by wealthy downsizers. This has been reflected in the recent projects undertaken locally by the developer.

Malvern Collective joins a boutique current apartment development dubbed The Mowbray at Camberwell's 553-555 Burke Road and the recently completed Trentwood at 25 Trent Street, Glen Iris as examples of kokoda Property's shift in focus to inner eastern Melbourne suburbs.

<h2>641-675 Dandenong Road development team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Kokoda Property Group (Malvern Development Partnership Pty Ltd)</li>
	<li>Architect: Jackson Clements Burrows Architects</li>
	<li>Urban Planning: Contour Consultants</li>
	<li>Landscape Plan: Tract Landscape Architects</li>
	<li>Cultural Heritage Statement: Archaeology At Tardis</li>
	<li>Traffic Impact Assessment: GTA Consultants</li>
	<li>Waste Management Plan: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>Utility Services: Intrax Consulting Engineers</li>
	<li>Noise and Vibration Consultants: Octave Acoustics</li>
	<li>Heritage Consultant: Lovell Chen</li>
	<li>Urban Design Consultant: Message Consultants</li>
	<li>Site Survey: Bosco Jonson</li>
</ul>
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silvermb

Malvern's mega development site curtailed but still imposing

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An amendment to North Sydney's planning scheme has been initiated in recent days as Legacy Property looks to capitalise upon a site located in a boom development corridor.

253-267 Pacific Highway is subject to a Planning Proposal that would yield a substantial development across a 1,469 square metre corner site. Plans have been drawn up that seek to unlock the well positioned site's potential by way of a new mixed-use development.

Aided by PTW Architects and GM Urban Design and Architecture, Legacy Property hopes to establish a new site-specific height control and FSR control, resulting in a high-density, dual building outcome.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image87_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Pacific Highway perspective. Image: PTW Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="369" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image87_6.jpg?itok=QhSh9qqb" title="Pacific Highway perspective. Image: PTW Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Pacific Highway perspective. Image: PTW Architects</figcaption></figure>The result sees a conceptual building envelope spanning 67 metres with a smaller mid-rise reaching 22 metres.

Commercial, residential, retail and community uses are envisaged for the development. 89 residential apartments are included, as is 1,667 square metres of office space over four levels; 253-267 Pacific Highway holds a total Gross Floor Area of 10,477 square metres.

Public benefits are outlined and sees the inclusion of affordable rental housing (3 x 1 bedroom apartments and 1 x studio apartment) and the dedication of both office and community floor space for Council use.

349 square metres is expected to be seeded to Council as affordable office space for ‘start-up’ businesses whilst further space at ground level is earmarked for community facilities.

Continuous active edges will be provided to Pacific Highway and West Street. Church Lane as the least active of the site's three frontages will be widened and activated.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image86_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hero perspective. Image: PTW Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="360" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image86_8.jpg?itok=hd4KFLjn" title="Hero perspective. Image: PTW Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hero perspective. Image: PTW Architects</figcaption></figure>253-267 Pacific Highway aside, Legacy Property has been an active player in the greater North Sydney development scene in recent years, having had dealing in the North Sydney - Crows Nest - St Leonards urban renewal corridor.

Miller Street in North Sydney, Oxley Street in Crows Nest and St Leonards' 617-621 Pacific Highway have all fallen under the Legacy Property umbrella, although the developer did not see any of the sites through to completion.

Two sites were divested after Legacy Property's successful attempts to create development uplift whilst the Crows Nest land holding was compulsorily acquired during 2016 in order to facilitate the new Crows Nest Metro Station. It too received the green light for 100 apartments over 13 levels prior to its acquisition.
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Legacy Property sees opportunity in North Sydney

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Toga Group is pushing through with the mass redevelopment of Redfern's Surry Hills Shopping Village.

After a competitive design process which saw a consortium headed by architecture firm SJB lead all comers, a detailed development application is in motion for the sprawling Redferm site on the corner of Cleveland and Baptist streets.

The heritage listed former Bank of NSW building at 397-399 Cleveland Street is to be retained and surrounded by 8 new buildings. In line with the site's existing use, a mass of retail is included, as is commercial office space, basement parking for 345 vehicles and 157 apartments.

A key plank of the design's success is the inclusion of extensive public domain works.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image77_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Terrace houses fronting Marriott Street. Image: SJB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="310" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image77_3.jpg?itok=a-1cn95I" title="Terrace houses fronting Marriott Street. Image: SJB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Terrace houses fronting Marriott Street. Image: SJB</figcaption></figure><h2>A slow road</h2>

Toga Group first surfaced as the development partner of choice for the prominent 12,244.1 square metre development site during 2015, when Coles elected to maintain its presence onsite. When the site was listed for sale during 2014, the Wesfarmers-owned Coles exercised first rights over the shopping centre with an eye toward redevelopment.

The development process has now progressed to the point where a detailed development application landed with City of Sydney late last month. Initially touted as capable of handling 300 apartments, the expected 157 apartments are well short of initial intentions.

Coles and Toga Group's joint application has a construction value of $149 million.

Coles is making a habit of pursuing development opportunities on the eastern seaboard. The Surry Hills complex joins additional current Coles developments in <a href="/developments/lindfield-nsw-2070">Lindfield</a> in Sydney and <a href="/new-apartments/the-mark-441-glen-huntly-road-elsternwick">Elsternwick</a> plus <a href="/buildings/261-271-bridge-road-richmond">Richmond</a> in Melbourne.0

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image81a.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Site overview. Image: SJB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="332" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image81a.jpg?itok=2csuqkcG" title="Site overview. Image: SJB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Site overview. Image: SJB</figcaption></figure><h2>Design prowess</h2>

Toga Group's Redfern site was subject to a competitive design process, with a trio of other design consortiums losing out to a team including SJB, Architect Prineas and Aspect Studios.

Design teams trumped for the Redfern site include Bates Smart/Chenchow Little/Luchetti Krelle, DKO Architecture/Archer Office/Hames Sharley/Tribe/Aspect Studio and the Woods Bagot/Alexander &amp; Co/Christopher Owen Landscape Design trio.

The Competitive Design Alternatives Report made not of the winning team's positive design outcomes.

<blockquote>
The Selection Panel also noted that the scheme included delightfully whimsical elements that provided a distinctive identity and character.

There was a genuine understanding of the character of the area and a lot of thought had gone into the design of the apartments, even down to the uniquely shaped windows. The planning strategy that enabled apartments to be no more than one stair flight from communal garden areas was also commendable.

There was considerable thought to materiality and detailing, with more intricacy and articulation to the lower levels and street frontages, supporting upper levels with less variety in material or colour. The design is also potentially suited to modularisation, although this would require further investigation.
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image7a9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Non successful participants in the design competition"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="237" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image7a9.jpg?itok=nRlINv55" title="Non successful participants in the design competition" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Non successful participants in the design competition</figcaption></figure>
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Toga Group takes Redfern's Surry Hills Shopping Village down the development path

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Peak industry body Urban Taskforce Australia (UTA) last week went on the offensive, criticising aspects of Sydney's planning system which it believes leads to dull apartment design.

Far from the international design competitions which define many of inner Sydney's landmark towers, the criticism was levelled at many of greater Sydney's municipal councils 

At a recent forum dubbed Innovative Apartments, UTA's sentiment was that of disappointment in Sydney's 'tick a box' planning system. UTA maintains that the rigidity and increased regulations governing the design of apartment buildings has stymied innovative design outcomes.

UTA CEO Chris Johnson said in a pointed media release:

<blockquote>
Over the last decade the government rules and guides for the design of apartment buildings has become more complex, leading to a tick a box planning assessment process that is leading to less innovation and design diversity.

At a recent Urban Taskforce forum on how to balance regulation and innovation in the design of apartment buildings the Mayor of Burwood, John Faker, called for more innovation and diversity in design. Mark Raggett of Melbourne architects ARM Architecture demonstrated how a strong culture of architecture in Melbourne has made innovative design the accepted way to design apartment buildings.

The debate was timely as a growing negative attitude from community groups about apartments seems to be partly based on the dull look of many apartments that all look the same.
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image54_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A selection of Burwood apartment projects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="470" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image54_11.jpg?itok=a-xAvlwk" title="A selection of Burwood apartment projects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A selection of Burwood apartment projects</figcaption></figure>UTA makes note of the excessive number of controls and guidelines in place, plus as many as 25 specialist reports required by most councils that must demonstrate compliance prior to an application gaining approval.

Consequently the onus has shifted away from premier design outcomes to one of appeasement.

Architects at the Innovative Apartments forum made note that apartment design was being driven by an excessive number of rules which has neagted merit based assessment, with one unnamed architect going as far as to say that the rigorous approvals process was ‘taking away the soul of Sydney’.

Acting NSW Government Architect, Olivia Hyde, who also presented the the forum, outlining the NSW Government’s focus on design excellence through a number of publications, policies and design review processes. Hyde also noted that many councils were using guides as rules despite government documents saying this should not be the case.

UTA's emphasis on design would see "a special design excellence approval path that would bypasses the excessive number of rules that are forcing low common dominator designs rather than encouraging innovative solutions through merit assessment.

The state government must establish a pathway for innovative apartment building design that local councils can use to enrich their neighbourhoods.”

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image55_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="ARM Architecture's Orbis has been identified as a design benchmark"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image55_13.jpg?itok=R8aH0v5h" title="ARM Architecture's Orbis has been identified as a design benchmark" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>ARM Architecture's Orbis has been identified as a design benchmark</figcaption></figure>Lead image: Sydney Aerial Photography
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Urban Taskforce labels Sydney's apartment aesthetic as dull

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Apartments.com.au's Project Database has reached a noteworthy milestone, pushing past 3,700 listings in recent days.

This equates to 3,700 projects of differing uses that are currently active across Australia and which fall within four broad categories; Planning Assessment, Approved, Registration &amp; Sales or Under construction. Apartments.com.au's Project Database represents the country's largest publicly accessible database of live development projects.

The Project Database has seen rapid expansion over the course of 2018.

Reflective of the rebirth of this website from Urban Melbourne to Apartments.com.au earlier in the year, the Project Database is now an all-encompassing platform that includes all major cities across Australia, supplemented by a growing number of regional centres such as Gold Coast, Geelong and Newcastle. The 3,700 milestone is a quantum leap forward from the roughly 1,400 solely Melbourne projects within the database at the turn of 2018.

Incidentally the 3,700th database listing happens to be an application for property developer Mattioli Group's new Melbourne headquarters. Kavellaris Urban Design conceived the mid-rise at 226-232 High Street in Kew; it includes retail at ground level, commercial office space and a dual level four bedroom apartment.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image99_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Number 3,700. Image: Kavellaris Urban Design"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="346" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image99_4.jpg?itok=Iszo8REO" title="Number 3,700. Image: Kavellaris Urban Design" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Number 3,700. Image: Kavellaris Urban Design</figcaption></figure>Reflecting the growing dominance that higher density housing has assumed across the nation, 3,290 or 88% of projects in the Apartments.com.au Project Database are residential.

Thereafter 286 commercial projects are included, as are 186 hotel or serviced apartment developments. The latter category has mushroomed over the course of 2018, as developers capitalise upon the favourable conditions in the market for short stay accommodation.

It is though residential that is the undisputed king of the database. Despite certain markets such as inner city Melbourne and Brisbane which are at the bottom of their respective apartment cycles, Apartments.com.au is still keeping tabs on 539 separate apartment and major townhouse developments across Australia which are at Registration &amp; Sales.

Whilst 3,700 is a hefty database figure, hundreds of further projects have been identified and will be added through to the end of 2018. Particular focus will fall on Brisbane and surrounds over coming months in order to make Apartments.com.au's Project Database more accurately reflective of the considerable backlog of approved developments evident across Brisbane.

Next stop 4,000!
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Urban.com.au's Project Database reaches 3,700 active developments

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Two projects touted by their respective developers as being exceptional developments in waiting have instead been put on the market as permitted opportunities.

In <a href="/new-apartments/north-melbourne-vic-3051">North Melbourne</a>, <a href="/developers/fridcorp">Fridcorp</a> has chosen not to develop <a href="/new-apartments/3-15-shiel-street-north-melbourne">3-15 Shiel Street</a>, which until recently had been dubbed Wild Apartments. In light of approval being granted during May, Fridcorp along with joint venture partners Daniel Besen and Wingate had expected to launch the project to market this year.

The associated media release at the time of approval specified an expected September sales campaign launch with construction slated to begin in the first quarter of 2019. Despite earlier intentions of seeing the project to fruition, <a href="https://www.cbremelbourne.com.au/properties/3-15-shiel-street-north-melbourne/">CBRE City Sales has been instructed to move the 1,311 square metre site on</a>.

Approval is in place for the $65 million residential project in North Melbourne’s evolving Arden Urban Renewal precinct. <a href="/architects/fraser-partners-0">Elenberg Fraser's</a> design for Shiel Street includes 82 one, two and three bedroom apartments over nine levels, supported by 70 basement car parks and an extensive rooftop terrace.

During May Fridcorp founder and director, Paul Fridman said “North Melbourne is a new market for Fridcorp but, together with Daniel Besen and Wingate, we saw an opportunity with the Victorian Planning Authority’s proposed Arden precinct to deliver quality medium-density housing in Melbourne’s inner-ring that will provide long-term investment potential and growth for owner-occupiers and investors."

Fridcorp picked up the North Melbourne site from fellow developer <a href="/developers/samma-property-group">SPEC Property</a> during 2016 and went about reworking the previously permitted design onsite with Elenberg Fraser.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image105_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="3-15 Shiel Street. Image: Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image105_2.jpg?itok=40vCl4BK" title="3-15 Shiel Street. Image: Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>3-15 Shiel Street. Image: Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>Also offered for sale is <a href="/developments/abbotsford-vic-3067">Abbotsford's 329 Johnston Street</a>.

The <a href="/architects/fieldwork">Fieldwork-designed</a> application had initially sought a mixed-use outcome incorporating retail, medical suites, offices and 41 serviced apartments in a building veiled in expanded mesh. In order to gain approval the design was trimmed to seven levels, with the serviced apartment component dropped in favour of an increased net leasable area of 6,517 square metres.

Based on a cross laminated timer design, 329 Johnston Street was to have provided a carbon-neutral construction method with an abbreviated construction time frame.

Dubbed <a href="https://329johnston.com/">Sol House</a>, Pirovich describes 329 Johnston Street as "seeking to achieve Passive Haus, giving future occupiers of the building a happier and healthier place to work, rest and play. As part of the new development we are setting the building back at ground level and ceding over 200 square metres of the site to the public realm."

Savills have instead been appointed to market the 1,912 square permit approved corner site.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image112_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="329 Johnston Street. Image: Fieldwork"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image112_3.jpg?itok=iOdx7cKQ" title="329 Johnston Street. Image: Fieldwork" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>329 Johnston Street. Image: Fieldwork</figcaption></figure>Pirovich joins fellow developer <a href="/developers/alpha-14-property-group">Alpha14 Property Group</a> in offering for sale a permitted commercial site within City of Yarra.

Alpha14 Property Group had advanced <a href="/developments/collingwood-vic-3066">Collingwood's 71-93 Gipps Street </a>to construction tender with the intent of beginning construction on the 1,579 square metre site this year. Instead the site and Hayball-designed office building have been listed for sale with Colliers, incorporating an approved net leasable area of 8,426 square metres.

It is likely that the offering of both permitted and prospective office-driven development sites within City of Yarra will increase due to the torrent of commercial applications currently within the municipality.

<a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image111_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" style="text-align: center;" title="Gipps Street opportunity. Image: Hayball"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image111_6.jpg?itok=guQSDWLm" title="Gipps Street opportunity. Image: Hayball" width="580"></a>

<figure><figcaption>Gipps Street opportunity. Image: Hayball</figcaption></figure>
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Fridcorp and Pirovich opt to drop their respective development opportunities

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Melbourne-based Chapter Group has underlined its aggressive expansion plans by announcing the acquisition of four separate development sites.

In light of the recent launch of the developer's super luxury <a href="/buildings/ukiyo-2-porter-street-prahran">Ukiyo Prahran</a> apartment project, Chapter Group's unveiling of the four new opportunities is a vote of confidence in Melbourne's apartment sector. Covering Fitzroy, Toorak, Windsor and Armadale, the new prospects carry a combined end value in excess of $400 million.

Fitzroy's 411-421 Smith Street shapes as the largest of the quartet, and will be developed in unison with Abacus Property Group and Crema Group.

The Smith Street holding is a renovated two-storey brick complex leased to Kathmandu &amp; Bellroy, with leases through to 2022. Expected is a mixed-use residential, commercial and retail development spanning the roughly 1,800 square metre site and holding an end value in the $100 million range.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image68a.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="411-421 Smith Street. Image: TCI Teneketzis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="343" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image68a.jpg?itok=vI_ggWwo" title="411-421 Smith Street. Image: TCI Teneketzis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>411-421 Smith Street. Image: TCI Teneketzis</figcaption></figure>Also on the agenda is a site on Toorak's Malvern Road. Having already partnered with developer Sin Heng Chan on <a href="/buildings/the-springfield-30-springfield-avenue-toorak">The Springfield</a> nearby, the duo have nabbed a 1,450 square metre site at 727-729 Malvern Road with intentions of creating 11 high-end apartments within a build valued at $12 million.

Further sites on Windsor's High Street and Armadale which both run in excess of 2,000 square metres in size are also in the developer's pocket.

According Chapter Group's media statement, the site purchases and intended developments are "congruent with Chapter Group’s vision of providing Melburnians with thoughtful homes that deliver design excellence, outstanding quality and unparalleled liveability. Chapter Group Director Dean Lefkos says " Our aim is to build high-quality projects in super prime locations that will provide residents with long-term gain, as opposed to projects and sites that will simply afford us short-term success.

These suburbs are recognised for their unparalleled lifestyle offering and demonstrated strength in capital growth year on year. Pricing expectations have also favoured within our parameters in recent months with vendors recognising the current environment and more prepared to agree to a reasonable deal."

The quartet of sites is also a boon for K2LD Architects; the practice is responsible for all of Chapter Group's projects to date, and have been nominated as architects for the above sites according to the developer's website.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image70_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ukiyo Prahran hero perspective. Image: Chapter Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="338" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image70_12.jpg?itok=fxOFyLgD" title="Ukiyo Prahran hero perspective. Image: Chapter Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ukiyo Prahran hero perspective. Image: Chapter Group</figcaption></figure>In a further sign that Chapter Group is confident in the prospect's of Melbourne's high-end residential sector, Ukiyo Prahran is due to launch its sales campaign.

On the Porter Street, Percy Street and High Street corner, Ukiyo consists of 12 half and full floors apartments, with the top three levels of the ten level building earmarked as penthouses. Ukiyo holds an end value of $40 million and falls into a pocket of Prahran that is seeing a strong level of residential activity, with developers ITUM and SP Setia also pursuing current apartment developments.

Chapter Group's Prahran project also sees retail at ground level plus two full floors dedicated to commercial space.

Ukiyo's living options are split between  2, 3 and 4 bedroom configurations.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image71_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ukiyo Prahran interior. Image: Chapter Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="323" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image71_8.jpg?itok=90O-nvFt" title="Ukiyo Prahran interior. Image: Chapter Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ukiyo Prahran interior. Image: Chapter Group</figcaption></figure>
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Chapter Group launches Ukiyo Prahran, adds four new development sites to its portfolio

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Five significant and very distinct projects across Melbourne now share a common link in that they have all called for construction tenders in the past week.

The sporting, commercial, residential and retail developments have a combined construction value in excess of half a billion dollars, with their combined end value comfortably pushing past the billion dollar mark. Further projects of significant size and stature are also currently at construction tender, with the latest five underlining the still robust nature of Melbourne's construction scene.

The five projects expected to become reality are outlined below:

Poly Centre Melbourne

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image47_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image: Poly Australia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="880" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image47_13.jpg?itok=-x7Pg9aC" title="Image: Poly Australia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image: Poly Australia</figcaption></figure>Poly Developments Australia looks set to make good on earlier indications that it would initiate construction of Poly Centre Melbourne at 1000 La Trobe Street this year.

Having appointed agents Colliers International and JLL to land tenants for the 33,000 plus square metre office tower, a construction tender for the development was released yesterday. Both Colliers International and JLL are also handling leasing duties for sister Sydney development, <a href="/developments/sydney-nsw-2000">Poly Centre Sydney</a>.

With approval already in place, architect Woods Bagot looks to have reworked the outer expression of the tower, which would account for a portion of land within the wider Digital Harbour precinct.

Melbourne Park Stage 3

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image46_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image: NH Architecture and Snøhetta"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image46_13.jpg?itok=pZ12_EOt" title="Image: NH Architecture and Snøhetta" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image: NH Architecture and Snøhetta</figcaption></figure>Announced last year, the third and final stage of Melbourne Park's transformation is due to become reality.

A build value of in excess of $200 million reflects Stage 3's stated of $271.55 million. With Stage 2 works on the new Rod Laver Arena eastern entry pod all but complete, NH Architecture and Snøhetta have jointly conceived the final stage which includes a new multi-purpose 5,000-seat show court/arena, central public terrace, function and media centre, broadcast studios and logistics hub.

Expected to make pedestrian access around the sporting precinct far easier, the works are set to create 600 jobs during construction and underpin thousands more jobs in our tourism and hospitality industry upon completion.

Wills Place

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image52_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image: Shangyi Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="399" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image52_8.jpg?itok=4AykAuNX" title="Image: Shangyi Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image: Shangyi Property</figcaption></figure>With a sales campaign that began during mid 2015, Wills Place has the peculiarity of being the project that has spent the longest time in the Apartments.com.au Project Database without advancing to construction.

That though is set to change with a fresh construction tender looking to add the 35 level residential tower component behind a classic 1930’s heritage facade at 17 Wills Street in the northern section of Melbourne's CBD. Shangyi Property is backing the tower with CHT Architects creating the building which is slated to include 200 apartments.

CHT Architects' design replaces an earlier scheme onsite that would have included a unique and substantial void in the tower form for use as an elevated park.

Richmond Plaza

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/273_20-12-2017_3343_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image: SJB"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="341" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/273_20-12-2017_3343_1.jpg?itok=rIckl0-o" title="Image: SJB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image: SJB</figcaption></figure>The long approved Richmond Plaza redevelopment has sparked to life with Coles Group Developments initiating a construction tender.

Coles is already undertaking a mass redevelopment of their <a href="/new-apartments/the-mark-441-glen-huntly-road-elsternwick">Elsternwick location</a>, with Richmond now poised to follow. Approximately 300 apartments are included within the SJB-designed scheme, as is commercial space and in excess of 7,000 square metres of retail opportunity.

The ground plane of the sprawling site will be opened via the inclusion a series of laneways and new access points.

Prospect Apartments

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image55_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Image: Hayball"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="734" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image55_12.jpg?itok=ATkNtVlR" title="Image: Hayball" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Image: Hayball</figcaption></figure>Irrepressible Box Hill is also due for another major residential tower as R&amp;F Property Australia initiates a tender for the delivery of Prospect Apartments.

Having secured the site with a permit in place, the Chinese-backed developer went about reworking the project as evidenced by new architect Hayball's tower above. As many as 193 apartments are included within the 25 storey tower, with 2,860 square metres of predominantly office space accounting for the podium levels.

R&amp;F Property Australia's move on their Box Hill site follows on quickly from the launch of the first stage of Footscray's <a href="/buildings/live-city-124-188-ballarat-road-footscray">Live City</a>; that development will yield as many as 1,500 apartments for the developer.
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Billions worth of new construction activity beckons for Melbourne

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Construction works on Western Sydney University's new purpose-built vertical campus in Liverpool wrapped up in the second quarter of 2018. The 10-storey build at 100 Macquarie Street was undertaken by Binah Constructions and can now accommodate thousands of students over the course of an academic year.

The latest in a national shift toward vertical education facilities, Western Sydney University's project was a joint design effort between Mosca Pserras Architects and Woods Bagot.

Part of the University’s ‘Western Growth’ initiative, 100 Macquarie Street is located within the fastest growing area in the Sydney region. In addition to providing learning outcomes, the 16,820 square metre facility will also providing opportunities for local enterprise and institutions to grow in conjunction with the university.

The weekend passed saw Western Sydney University hold an open day onsite, showcasing 100 Macquarie Street's focus on nursing, social sciences, social work, anthropology, community welfare, criminology and policing programs.  Learning spaces are also intertwined with ancillary facilities such as a library, student hub, symposium space and student services area.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image36_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="100 Macquarie Street in an evening glow. Image: Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="423" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image36_6.jpg?itok=56nPeAyA" title="100 Macquarie Street in an evening glow. Image: Woods Bagot" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>100 Macquarie Street in an evening glow. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure>Whilst Mosca Pserras Architects provided base building design input, Woods Bagot were tasked with creating a wider brief and subsequent interior design that "exemplifies a blended learning approach through a highly connected and collaborative environment, delivering a dynamic and brand-aligned City Campus for 2,500 students."

As Woods Bagot’s regional Education sector leader, Alan J Duffy provided in depth commentary on the new Liverpool landmark.

<blockquote>
The design delivers a vertical campus building that both enables and exemplifies creativity, choice and critical thinking for the next generation of social science and nursing and midwifery graduates.

Now that the building is open and in use, it is a privilege as designers to see the students using the space in a way that actually extends how it was intended – customising and using space in their own way.

Just as the Georges River connected communities over time in the Liverpool catchment area, the internal stairs connect campus occupants between floors, encouraging interaction and collaboration. The meandering activity along the bold, vibrantly red stair will be visible from the streetscape, exemplifying the idea of learning on display and creating positive presence.

This is a world-leading campus for Liverpool that not only gives our students an enriching and unparalleled learning experience, but one that is embedded in the economic, social and civic life of the city.
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image37_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The signature red staircase. Image: Woods Bagot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image37_11.jpg?itok=qojA9mSg" title="The signature red staircase. Image: Woods Bagot" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The signature red staircase. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure>Woods Bagot's wider design concept for the new campus centered around the idea of “connectography”, the melding of globally-minded, technology-driven “connectivity” with that of “geography”, which in 100 Macquarie Street's case references the location of Liverpool and its relationship back to the City.

This notion of connectography permeates the design, with organic forms and circulation pathways key design focuses. Each floor contains flexible learning spaces, connected via a distinctive and voids which form a continuous meandering vertical link; this in turn encourages informal meetings and social congregation. 

The project's most visible design feature is the fire engine red angular staircase which sits directly behind the transparent double glazed facade. The stair in part emphasises the vertical nature of the design where "the community can visually connect with the internal activities occurring in the building." 

Wood Bagot's all-encompassing design approach extends to the ground plane where further flexible spaces can accommodate orientation days, public announcements, industry presentations and pop-up events, in turn fostering greater engagement with the community .

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image38_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Facility in use. Image: Trevor Mein"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image38_11.jpg?itok=OO1qPz8n" title="Facility in use. Image: Trevor Mein" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Facility in use. Image: Trevor Mein</figcaption></figure>
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Profiling Woods Bagot's role in Western Sydney University's new Liverpool campus

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Gold Coast's latest tower in waiting could provide future residents with ultimate flexibility.

Britannia Ave Project Pty Ltd is pushing for dual land use recognition for 36-38 Brittania Avenue, Broadbeach, allowing the project to be considered as both as a typical residential development and as a short-term accommodation development. Applied to each of the tower's 88 apartments, the dual recognition would effectively allow future buyers ownership of their given apartment(s) plus the sanctioned flexibility to offer the property for short and medium-term leasing.

The bid to secure two residential land uses for the tower is opposed to having "the building operate as a traditional ‘hotel’ style development." 

Dubbed Encore Broadbeach, 36-38 Brittania Avenue's apartment mix consists of 22 three bedroom and 66 two bedroom apartments. Spanning 25 storeys, the 88 apartments incorporate some 198 bedrooms, with 96 car parking spaces to service the development.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image26_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Broadbeach's latest addition by HHH Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="1053" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image26_11.jpg?itok=Pk9gBtxm" title="Broadbeach's latest addition by HHH Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Broadbeach's latest addition by HHH Architects</figcaption></figure>Design duties fell to Hamilton Hayes Henderson Architects for the 1,214 square metre site.

Reflective of the likelihood that a proportion of dwellings will always be in use as short stay accommodation, 36-38 Brittania Avenue is laden with amenities. Across podium levels two and three, communal features include a pool, residents’ lounge, reading terrace, gym, multiple formal dining areas, a trio of  BBQ areas, yoga lawn and landscaped areas over both levels.

From an overall design perspective, Hamilton Hayes Henderson Architects considers the tower as unique and almost ethereal. "The tower form sits above the lower floors like an extra-terrestrail object - a colourless minimalist abstracted repetitive form above a coloured complex decorative three storey building.

The simple 'black' and 'white' form visible against the sky can be read as a continuous white ribbon that climbs around the dark glass pillar."

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image29_19.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial overview of the Brittania Avenue site"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="374" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image29_19.jpg?itok=vt8cDBUJ" title="Aerial overview of the Brittania Avenue site" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial overview of the Brittania Avenue site</figcaption></figure>Submitted with Gold Coast City Council only last week, 36-38 Brittania Avenue is the latest in a string of residential towers to hit planning within the municipality of late. Last week Apartments.com.au <a href="/news/bassar-group-to-test-broadbeachs-luxury-apartment-market-depth">reported on developer Bassar Group's bid</a> to add to Broadbeach's skyline with a luxury residential tower, and <a href="/news/pointcorp-adds-a-luxury-burleigh-heads-project-to-its-boom-portfolio">Pointcorp's push to realise a mid-rise tower</a> in Burleigh Heads.

The upswing in planning submissions for high density residential projects in locations such as Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Southport and Burleigh Heads is reflective of the confidence in which developers are currently eyeing the Gold Coast region.

A decision on the merits of Britannia Ave Project Pty Ltd's application is expected during November.
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Dual purpose on Broadbeach; Gold Coast's latest tower unveiled

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.

Joel Robinson

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.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.

The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.

The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;

The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" />

The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;

Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.

“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.

“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" />

“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.

“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.

“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" />

Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;

Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.

“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.

“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.

“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”

$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.

John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.

The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.

In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" 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%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.

DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.

“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.

At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.

The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.

Mark Baljak

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