A year has passed since JW Land went on a media blitz promoting their intended development of 699-701 Park Street in Brunswick at the top of Princes Park.

Plans for what is currently the Best Western Princes Park Motor Inn were lodged with Council during 2016, although Architectus has veered away from the previous design path with&nbsp;a revised development application which was submitted late last year. Gone is the undulating and bulky glass-clad tower of the initial proposal, with Architectus instead favouring a more subdued approach to the prospective development.

The revised application would result in lowered development expectations for JW Land; an initially sought&nbsp;333 apartments within the project has been cut to 255 apartments and&nbsp;12 townhouses, as per the application which is fresh to advertising.

For locals concerned with the height of the development, there will be little relief as the revised application has increased in height from 13 to 14 levels, effectively compensating for lower built form height to the street and greater setbacks.

<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/image102_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A comparative view of old and new. Images: JW Land and Architectus"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="300" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image102_3.jpg?itok=Us83SZRC" title="A comparative view of old and new. Images: JW Land and Architectus" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>A comparative view of old and new. Images: JW Land and Architectus</figcaption>
</figure>

Development plans for the 6,463 square metre site sparked the&nbsp;creation of an action group dubbed&nbsp;Protect Park St Precinct, which was set up specifically to tackle JW Land's development.

Among the action group's concerns was the&nbsp;proposed scale and impact of the&nbsp;13-storey development, lessening the&nbsp;qualities of our neighbourhood, the inclusion of borrowed light apartments and the lack of any additional open recreational space for the new residents. Based upon feedback from Council and the development team's need to&nbsp;the comply with the Better Apartment Design Standards&nbsp;requirements, the Park Street application was completely overhauled.

Expected now is an eight-level mixed use building fronting Brunswick Road, a 14 level main tower set well back from the respective street frontages and a seven level building on the corner of Park Street and Sydney Road/Royal Parade corner.

The large land area allows for a single level basement of 401 parking spaces to service the development; it along with the built form above ground equates to a development Plot Ratio of 6.43. A roof terrace, retail tenancy, 1,300 square metre childcare centre and community hub which is expected to be leased to Moreland City Council round out the development.

126 single&nbsp;bedroom apartments are included, as are 88 two bedroom apartments, 29 three bedroom apartments and 12 townhouses account for the development's living options.

<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/image103_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Royal Parade perspective. Planning image: Architectus"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" height="404" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image103_1.jpg?itok=997ajUjN" title="Royal Parade perspective. Planning image: Architectus" width="580" /></a>

<figcaption>Royal Parade perspective. Planning image: Architectus</figcaption>
</figure>

The site has&nbsp;three separate preferred height controls from 10.5 metres through to 25 metres, or 8 levels. At 14 levels&nbsp;699-701 Park Street would reach&nbsp;a maximum height of 45.25 metres.

According to planning report author Urbis, the additional height is considered appropriate due to the majority of the site being well below the preferred height control, improved setbacks and the introduction of high-quality external finishes as part of the redesign introducing&nbsp;the notion that "the building seeks to blend in with its surrounds and be a discrete element within the skyline of Brunswick."

Whether Moreland City Council perceives the project in the same fashion remains to be seen.

<h2>699-701 Park Street development team</h2>

<ul>
	<li>Developer: JW Land</li>
	<li>Architect &amp; Urban Context Report: Architectus</li>
	<li>Planning: Urbis</li>
	<li>Heritage Report: Bryce Raworth Heritage Conservation</li>
	<li>Traffic Report: Traffix</li>
	<li>Waste Management Plan: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>Landscape: MALA</li>
	<li>Sustainable Management Plan, Acoustic &amp; Stormwater: Wood and Grieve Engineers</li>
</ul>

silvermb

JW Land's Park Street proposal goes down a different design path

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As far back as 2015, there was a discernible shift in buyer sentiment throughout Melbourne's apartment market.

Articles over the course of 2015 <a href="/news/is-melbournes-apartment-boom-concentrated-in-the-inner-city">here</a>, <a href="/news/buyer-sentiment-what-the-market-is-telling-us">here</a> and <a href="/news/bellers-andrew-fawell-on-the-spring-property-market-and-prevailing-trends">here</a> from a variety of industry voices, combined with Apartments.com.au's accumulation of Project Database information confirmed that an increasing number of Melbourne apartment buyers favoured middle ring suburbs over the traditional CBD, Docklands and Southbank trio.

Industry consultancy Urbis <a href="/news/urbis-quantifies-the-apartment-shift-to-melbournes-middle-and-outer-suburbs">underlined this trend during 2017</a>, quantifying the increased push of apartments into Melbourne's middle and outer ring suburbs. This went hand in hand with investor grade apartment stock ceding to owner-occupied projects.

Now Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials report for the December quarter 2017 once again confirms the continuing trend, albeit in a softer apartment market. Urbis assert that although new apartment project launches have further stagnated, the new sales rate has increased.

Urbis formulated its findings based upon 47 off the plan projects sampled in the December 2017 quarter, amounting to 9,692 apartments, in addition to keeping tabs on the status of 177 actively selling projects around 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/image96_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Kokoda Property Group's The Mowbray is representative of in demand apartment living"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image96_3.jpg?itok=wvfp0bC8" title="Kokoda Property Group's The Mowbray is representative of in demand apartment living" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Kokoda Property Group's The Mowbray is representative of in demand apartment living</figcaption></figure>Urbis research shows that an expected slowdown in the third quarter of 2017 - due to stamp duty changes - did eventuate, although sales activity increased in the fourth quarter to near equivalent levels in the corresponding 2016 period.

Of the 47 surveyed projects selected from inner and middle Melbourne, 70% of projects managed to sell 70% or more of their available stock. 

Existing stock was moved relatively easily due to the restricted release of new apartment projects across Melbourne. Urbis note that four new projects amounting to 1,828 apartments launched in inner Melbourne during the December quarter, which in terms of total apartment numbers comfortably outpaced the previous quarter.

<h2>Bedroom breakdown</h2>

Unsurprisingly two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments were the most popular product type in the December 2017 according to Urbis, accounting for 47% of sales. Single bedroom apartments with a car park were next in line, accumulating 23% of sales in the quarter.

<blockquote>
 Both of these product types increased from the previous quarter, with fewer two-bedroom, one-bathroom and one-bedroom, zero car park apartments transacting compared to the previous quarter.

Two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments were the most popular product type in the Inner East, Inner South, Inner West and middle-ring precincts. However, the Inner North precinct recorded a majority of one-bedroom apartments with a car park and the Central precinct recorded the majority of sales of one-bedroom apartments without a car park.
</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/meilleur_malvern.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Millieur Malvern's apartment formats target owner occupiers"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="266" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/meilleur_malvern.jpg?itok=z6zjKB_d" title="Millieur Malvern's apartment formats target owner occupiers" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Millieur Malvern's apartment formats target owner occupiers</figcaption></figure><h2>Apartments.com.au analysis</h2>

There are currently 306 apartment projects noted as being at registrations or sales within the Apartments.com.au Project Database.

The trend in recent years has seen a greater number of developers gravitate to Stonnington and Boroondara above all other municipalities, where demand for quality owner-occupier stock as at its greatest. Suburbs such as Hawthorn, Kew, Malvern, Glen Iris and Toorak are all sporting a relatively high number of apartment projects available for purchase.

The overall Stonnington and Boroondara number of projects which are at sales but yet to reach construction stands at 55.

Comparatively Yarra, Moreland and Port Phillip and Moonee Valley combined have 59 apartment projects at sales.

<h2>Urbis Melbourne Apartment Essentials Q4 2017 snapshot</h2>

<ul>
<li>Urbis assessed sales from 47 off the plan projects comprising a total dwelling stock of 9,692 apartments</li>
	<li>In 159 monitored selling projects in Inner Melbourne, over 16,000 apartments are in Presales (48%) and a further 35% have commenced construction.</li>
	<li>Urbis recorded 344 off the plan sales in the December 2017 quarter. Of these, 54% were in the Inner Melbourne area, while 46% were recorded in Melbourne’s middle ring.</li>
	<li>Within Inner Melbourne, 48% of sales were recorded in the Inner North Precinct, followed by the Central Precinct (21% sales), Inner East (18% of sales), Inner West (11% sales) and Inner South (2% sales).</li>
	<li>The weighted average sales price for the December 2017 quarter was $692,592 for the Inner Melbourne precincts and $588,114 for the middle ring.</li>
	<li>Two-bedroom, two-bathroom product accounted for 47% of total sales across Inner and Middle Melbourne, and 40% of total sales in Inner Melbourne (compared to 27% in the previous quarter). One-bedroom apartments across Inner and Middle Melbourne accounted for 35% of total sales, though this quarter a larger majority contained a car park.</li>
	<li>Four new projects amounting to 1,828 apartments launched in Inner Melbourne this quarter, compared to five new projects amounting to 1,119 units in the previous quarter.</li>
</ul>
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Urbis affirms Melbourne's affinity with the middle ring

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Monash City Council has provided Salta's latest pursuit within their Nexus Corporate mixed-use precinct a Notice of Decision to Grant a Planning Permit, with final approval little more than a formality. Last month Apartments.com.au <a href="/news/salta-pursues-mulgraves-first-hotel">outlined</a> the mixed-use proposal at 12 Nexus Court, which now stands to become Mulgrave's tallest building.

Indicative renders suggest that Tribe Hotel Group may have earmarked Salta Properties' intended Mulgrave mixed-use development as their second Melbourne port of call.

<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_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="12 Nexus Court in full. Planning image: Gray Puksand / Technē"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="684" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image92_3.jpg?itok=68C163kW" title="12 Nexus Court in full. Planning image: Gray Puksand / Technē" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>12 Nexus Court in full. Planning image: Gray Puksand / Technē</figcaption></figure>139 residential hotel rooms are expected within the 'pod' aspect of the building designed jointly between Gray Puksand and Technē.

The application documents presented for approval sees the building sporting Tribe signage on the distinctive bronze hotel component, although no agreement between either developer or hotel operator has been publicly announced.

<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/image93_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="12 Nexus Court rendered in place alongside the Monash. Planning image: Gray Puksand / Technē"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="371" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image93_5.jpg?itok=_Z5_pknh" title="12 Nexus Court rendered in place alongside the Monash. Planning image: Gray Puksand / Technē" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>12 Nexus Court rendered in place alongside the Monash. Planning image: Gray Puksand / Technē</figcaption></figure>What isn't in doubt is Tribe Hotel Group nominating Collingwood as their first Melbourne location.

Earlier this year the relatively new yet bullish hotel operator entered into a joint partnership with Salta Properties and Victor Smorgon Group, with an eye toward <a href="https://www.traveldailynews.asia/tribe-hotel-group-acquires-property-site-from-peregrine-pro">developing 60 Langridge Street</a>. Fellow developer Peregrine Projects divested itself of the 1,056 square metre Collingwood site late last year, which formed part of a larger land holding.

Colliers agent Guy Wells said the following of the Tribe Collingwood project:

<blockquote>
Given the surrounding lifestyle amenity of Smith and Gertrude Streets and the ongoing office development in the area, with over 30,000m2 of office to be developed in the short to medium term, Collingwood has been sought after by numerous hotel developers and operators.

A Tribe hotel will work seamlessly with the growing corporate and existing leisure market in the Collingwood area.
</blockquote>

The Collingwood, and potentially Mulgrave Tribe Hotel locations follow on from the operator's first Australian property in Perth which opened during June last year, and includes 126 hotel rooms across 7 levels. Tribe Hotel Group's expansion plans have reportedly seen the operator acquire sites in Hobart and Adelaide as well.

<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/a20170817121120.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="60 Langridge Street has been hived off a larger development site. Image: CRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/a20170817121120.jpg?itok=k-V_d00X" title="60 Langridge Street has been hived off a larger development site. Image: CRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>60 Langridge Street has been hived off a larger development site. Image: CRE</figcaption></figure>
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Nexus Court's hotel receives the nod

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The city of Stonnington is assessing a recent application across 835-853 High Street for boutique developer Moda. Accustomed to smaller projects in Melbourne's inner eastern suburbs, Moda has stepped up in scale for the proposed Armadale apartment project.

Moda's project lead Carr Architecture has, in turn, created a stylish 7-storey project housing 27 double bedroom and 8 triple bedroom apartments.

Apartments aside, 2 retail tenancies of 550 and 117 square metres are incorporated at ground floor across the site which spans 1,501 square metres in total, and has a High Street frontage of 50.6 metres. Costing $20 million to deliver, the development also includes a dual basement for 65 vehicles and 45 bicycles.

Carr Architecture's simple grid pattern, restrained finishes and ample greenery make for a visually satisfying design, although not all residents in the surrounding area share the same perspective.

<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/image129_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A simple facade format up close. Image: Moda"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="578" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image129_2.jpg?itok=RhiwconR" title="A simple facade format up close. Image: Moda" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A simple facade format up close. Image: Moda</figcaption></figure>The application has garnered 26 separate objections as residents voice their concerns over the intended project's scale.

The primary grievance against the development is 835-853 High Street's size and bulk, with a single storey dwelling abutting the western boundary. Elimination of natural light from certain aspects, lower amenity and a disregard for heritage features in the immediate area are also cited as concerns.

Objector concerns can essentially be summarised by one particular admission:

<blockquote>
The excessive bulk, form and appearance proposed will adversely affect the significance of the adjoining heritage properties on New Street and will greatly detract from the outlook, character and appearance of this heritage precinct. Clause 34.01−8 states that the development should have 'regard to the interface with adjoining zones, especially the relationship with residential areas'.

The adjoining Neighborhood Residential Zone accommodates and anticipates lower density 1−2 story built form. The proposed development does not provide for appropriate heights or transition that suitably integrates with this lower rise, built form character.
</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/image128_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Top floor terrace. Image: Moda"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="309" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image128_3.jpg?itok=RqVQ-YIb" title="Top floor terrace. Image: Moda" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Top floor terrace. Image: Moda</figcaption></figure>Whilst many objectors were not against the site's redevelopment, they feel a more appropriate design is required. Conversely, the development team has referenced the adjoining built form which may act as height precedents.

Builder Hacer Group recently oversaw completion of 881 Armadale which holds 67 apartments and reaches 6 levels. Taller still is 863 High Street which sits between 881 Armadale and Moda's intended development, although 835-853 High Street will be even taller.

Advertising has just commenced for Moda's intended apartment project; a final decision is some time away.

<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/image132_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="881 Armadale at completion. Image: Hacer Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="355" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image132_3.jpg?itok=fTGxZP7l" title="881 Armadale at completion. Image: Hacer Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>881 Armadale at completion. Image: Hacer Group</figcaption></figure>
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High class and high fuss on High Street: Carr Architecture's latest for Moda

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ASX listed property player Stockland is intent on adding to its <a href="https://www.stockland.com.au/retirement-living">already extensive portfolio</a> of Melbourne retirement living villages by seeking to hive off a part of The Pines Shopping Centre in Doncaster East for hundreds of new retirement living apartments.

Although keen to diversify uses across the centre, Stockland may find it more difficult to realise the outer suburban project in its submitted form. Last week Manningham City Council released a planning report for the proposed 283 retirement living apartments, waving away any intentions of approval.

At 181 Reynolds Road the Doncaster East development sits on the perimeter of Stockland's The Pines Shopping Centre which accounts for a considerable 77,633 square metre footprint.

Stockland and Plus Architecture have positioned the new development on the Reynolds Road and Blackburn Road intersection, replacing an open air car park south and west of the existing shopping centre.

<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/image91_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Street level perspective. Planning image: Plus Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="273" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image91_4.jpg?itok=EH_ddIQO" title="Street level perspective. Planning image: Plus Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Street level perspective. Planning image: Plus Architecture</figcaption></figure>Four multi-storey buildings constitute the development and are supplemented by communal facilities and 835 car spaces (with a portion dedicated to shoppers). Owing to the gradient of the site the tallest building spans approximately 35 metres above the street level.

Manningham City Council's response has been less than ideal from Stockland's perspective.

Council has listed a raft of issues with the Doncaster East application, ranging from non compliance with aspects of The Pines Activity Centre Structure Plan, insufficient community benefit and architectural excellence relative to height and scale, inadequate protection of internal amenity and concerns relating to any future expansion of the shopping centre and bus interchange.

Consequently, Manningham City Council's internal planners have recommended that the proposal be rejected outright.

Accounting for 21,478 square metres of the existing site, the buildings would also include 7 retail spaces amounting to 1,003 square metres, and a medical centre for 10 practitioners over a 500 square metre foorrprint.

Of the 835 car spaces included in the project, 342 are dedicated to residents, 28 to visitors and a hefty 465 would add to the already 1,000 plus which are rolled into the centre.

Manningham City Council last week ruled against the proposal. Having been at planning since mid 2017 and based upon Council's decision, Stockland likely now faces a stint at VCAT or a substantial redesign in order to add the Doncaster East site to its retirement living portfolio.

<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/image147_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Render from inside the centre. Planning image: Plus Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="368" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image147_0.jpg?itok=0Bga6sgv" title="Render from inside the centre. Planning image: Plus Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Render from inside the centre. Planning image: Plus Architecture</figcaption></figure>Aged care and retirement living in the area has been boosted of late by two other significant projects. Cockram during 2017 completed the first stage of a significant CHT Architects-designed independent living centre in Templestowe; it includes 150 bedrooms over four levels plus associated amenites and admin offices.

Urban.com.au during March highlighted <a href="/news/benetas-goes-bigger-on-doncaster-hill">Benetas' bid to upscale their Doncaster Road development</a> to include 74 independent living units and a 128 room residential aged care wing.
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Stockland pushes for The Pines to include retirement apartments

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In light of news breaking over the weekend regarding <a href="/news/royal-society-of-victoria-floats-a-plan-for-melbournes-tallest-skyscraper">efforts to provide Melbourne with a new tallest building dubbed Magic</a>, it's an opportune time to cast a brief glance over the sizeable group over towers across Melbourne in development beyond 200 metre height mark.

Whilst Magic shapes as Melbourne's most monumental tower, it has yet to reach planning. Thus the number of towers confirmed beyond the 200 metre height mark currently stands at 27.

<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/image25_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Magic in the making or merely a magic trick. Image: Decibel Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="316" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image25_11.jpg?itok=lXyUdV8t" title="Magic in the making or merely a magic trick. Image: Decibel Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Magic in the making or merely a magic trick. Image: Decibel Architecture</figcaption></figure>These are projects ranging from planning through to construction and exclude towers already completed. The overall figure would be higher but for a handful of applications that have over the last 18 months had their heights cut significantly whilst at planning.

With no new towers beyond the 200 metre mark submitted for quite some time, a brief overview of the confirmed 27 projects and potentially a 28th at 158 City Road reads as follows:

Central Business District

Melbourne's CBD continues to roll along as the primary hub for 200 metre towers in development. One of <a href="/developments">Queens Place</a>'s dual 246 metre towers is under construction, as are two of <a href="http://West%20Side%20Place">West side Place</a>'s four 200 plus metre towers.

Further tall towers at construction include <a href="/buildings/premier-tower-134-160-spencer-street-melbourne">Premier Tower</a>, <a href="/buildings/380-melbourne-380-lonsdale-street-melbourne">380 Lonsdale</a>, the hulking <a href="/buildings/aurora-melbourne-central-224-la-trobe-street-melbourne">Aurora Melbourne Central</a> and <a href="/buildings/victoria-one-452-472-elizabeth-street-melbourne">Victoria One</a>, with the latter racing toward completion.

<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/image42_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Premier Tower and 380 Lonsdale are at construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="205" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image42_6.jpg?itok=v0YLngIV" title="Premier Tower and 380 Lonsdale are at construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Premier Tower and 380 Lonsdale are at construction</figcaption></figure>The next line of CBD projects covers those at sales. <a href="/buildings/sapphire-by-the-gardens-63-la-trobe-street-melbourne-vic-3000">Sapphire by the Gardens</a>' two towers, <a href="/buildings/eq-tower-127-abeckett-street-melbourne">Uno Tower</a> and <a href="/buildings/aspire-melbourne-301-king-st-melbourne">299 King Street</a> have established marketing campaigns whilst the remaining towers that constitute West Side Place are about to launch to market.

This in effect leaves Sterling Global's 242 metre <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">383 La Trobe Street</a> and Brady Group's 210 metre <a href="/new-apartments/272-282-queen-street-melbourne">272-282 Queen Street</a> as approved developments in waiting.

<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/image31_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Uno Tower, 299 King Street and West Side Place"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="262" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image31_9.jpg?itok=fvk9f3ey" title="Uno Tower, 299 King Street and West Side Place" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Uno Tower, 299 King Street and West Side Place</figcaption></figure>The remaining project holding approval is <a href="/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street</a> which also happens to be listed for sale. The site is one of three Melbourne developments across the CBD and Carlton being divested by Sydney-based developer Besgate Group.

Southbank

The prospect of Magic aside, Southbank remains Melbourne's stronghold for tall towers. <a href="/buildings/australia-108-southbank-70-southbank-boulevard-southbank">Australia 108</a> and one of <a href="/buildings/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank">Melbourne Square</a>'s two 200 metre plus towers are under construction, with the balance of projects holding approval. 

<a href="/new-apartments/one-queensbridge-street-1-23-queensbridge-street-southbank">1 Queensbridge Street</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/51-65-clarke-street-southbank">51-65 Clarke Street</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/elysium-54-clarke-street-southbank">54 Clarke Street</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/293-297-city-road-southbank-vic-3006">295 City Road</a>, <a href="/new-apartments/38-freshwater-place-southbank">38 Freshwater Place</a> and <a href="/new-apartments/the-queensbridge-building-southbank-90-queensbridge-street-southbank">88 Queensbridge</a> have the green light to proceed when their respective developers see fit, although only 88 Queensbridge is at sales.

<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_16.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Australia 108 and dual Clarke Street skyscrapers. Photo: Adrian"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="281" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image29_16.jpg?itok=wr34Wful" title="Australia 108 and dual Clarke Street skyscrapers. Photo: Adrian" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Australia 108 and dual Clarke Street skyscrapers. Photo: Adrian</figcaption></figure>Last week one of the above approved towers, namely <a href="http://55%20Clarke%20Street%20project%20have%20put%20the%20site%20up%20for%20sale%20through%20Colliers%20International.">51-65 Clarke Street was listed for sale</a> via Colliers International. Newcity Group has elected to sell the permit approved development which spans 73 levels or approximately 230 metres in height.

<a href="/developments/southbank-vic-3006">158 City Road</a> is potentially the 28th tower to join the list and remains the only 200 metre plus tower at planning. It's still noted as at assessment after a bid to increase its approved height significantly from approximately 160 metres to above the 200 metre threshold was lodged some time ago.

It is worth noting that Beulah International's intended development of the BMW Southbank site which is currently <a href="/news/a-design-tour-de-force-beckons-for-beulah-internationals-bmw-southbank-site">subject to a design competition</a> will likely yield one of not two towers beyond the 200 metre mark.

Carlton

<a href="/buildings/swanston-central-168-victoria-street-carlton">Swanston Central</a> is Carlton's sole tower beyond 200 metres and will likely remain so for a very long time. Multiplex have taken the build to approximately the 30 level mark, and will eventually span 72 Levels with 1039 apartments included.

<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/41853838312_bfe411e86a_h_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Carlton's tallest on the rise. Image: Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="871" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/41853838312_bfe411e86a_h_0.jpg?itok=NOYrr1EV" title="Carlton's tallest on the rise. Image: Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Carlton's tallest on the rise. Image: Ryan Seychell</figcaption></figure>
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Melbourne's 200 metre development club revisited

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Carlingford's apartment credentials continue to gather momentum, as evidenced by the latest offering from property developer Merc Capital.

City of Parramatta has just fielded a fresh development application on behalf of Merc Capital, with Marchese Partners leading the design effort for the expected Shirley Street project. Set across 8-10 Shirley Street, the mid-rise apartment block is the latest in the area for Merc Capital which has been active in Carlingford for many years.

Efforts to amalgamate various Carlingford sites by the developer began in earnest during the mid 2000s, with the latest development application another step in the bid to bring greater density to the suburb.

<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/image126_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="East perspective. Planning image: Marchese Partners"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="515" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image126_0.jpg?itok=1SHIjXe8" title="East perspective. Planning image: Marchese Partners" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>East perspective. Planning image: Marchese Partners</figcaption></figure>For its part, Merc Capital is hoping to realise 49 apartments across 11 levels of living, heavily weighted toward two bedrooms dwellings with only 5 single and 5 triple bedroom options included. The aggregated site amounts to 1,881 square metres which creates an allowable floor space ratio of 1.8:1, although the proposal seeks a 2.3:1 outcome.

8-10 Shirley Street is serviced by 2 underground levels containing 55 car parking spaces.

Holding a development cost of $25 million, Merc Capital's latest development is a continuation of their penchant for developing across Sydney's northwest suburbs. In addition to Carlingford, Merc Capital has been active in apartment projects across Baulkham Hills, Kellyville, Killara and Castle Hill in the past.

<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/image127.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Carlingford Road is typical of the suburb's growing density. Image: Favor Design"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="314" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image127.jpg?itok=6uCo6qZZ" title="Carlingford Road is typical of the suburb's growing density. Image: Favor Design" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Carlingford Road is typical of the suburb's growing density. Image: Favor Design</figcaption></figure>Located directly north of Telopea which is itself inline for <a href="/news/telopeas-transformation-moves-to-the-eoi-stage">major urban renewal</a>, Carlingford's apartment market has been subject to strong growth in recent years. 2016 <a href="http://www.censusdata.abs.gov.au/census_services/getproduct/census/2016/quickstat/SSC10818">census figures</a> showed the suburb's population was approaching 25,000, with one in three having Chinese ancestry.

In addition to locally based developers such as Merc Capital, Carlingford has also drawn the attention of Chinese-backed developers. Recently Yifang Australia <a href="/news/yifang-australia-works-closer-to-a-positive-carlingford-outcome">amended development plans</a> in order to create 118 new apartments on the adjacent block to Shirley Street whilst other developers such as JQZ have been active in Carlingford.

Currently, we're tracking 15 separate apartment projects across Carlingford, equating to 856 potential new dwellings in the suburb's development pipeline.
</body></html>

Merc Capital adds to Carlingford's apartment popularity

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Glen Eira is currently the number one municipality outside of City of Melbourne in terms of the number of apartment projects at construction.

Edging out Stonnington, Moreland and Port Phillip, Apartments.com.au is tracking 25 noteworthy projects with 10 or more dwellings that are now in the hands of builders. Carnegie and Bentleigh are driving Glen Eira's construction boom, with the typical project between 4-6 levels and for the most likely to contain approximately 40 apartments.

Whilst it may not be the highest number of apartments under construction in any given municipality, Glen Eira's leading project at construction count sees 1,348 dwellings heading toward completion.

<h2>The everyday small</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/image146_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A quartet of Glen Eira apartment projects at construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="638" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image146_3.jpg?itok=hM18ksCk" title="A quartet of Glen Eira apartment projects at construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A quartet of Glen Eira apartment projects at construction</figcaption></figure>Glen Eira's zoning has for the most ruled out apartment projects beyond the 4-6 level bracket, although this has done little to dampen developers enthusiasm for the municipality.

Local developer Steller is by far and away the most active developer within Glen Eira, and their current project list reflects this. Steller has a half dozen project at construction across Carnegie, Glen Huntly and Bentleigh, reinforcing their liking for the area which has seen them create more three bedroom apartments in the municipality than any other developer.

The municipality is also not without international interest as three Malaysian-backed development firms are overseeing current builds in Carnegie. Matrix Concepts Holdings Berhad is behind M Carnegie, SP Setia is developing Maison and MRCB Land is jointly developing 1060 Carnegie with Chinese-linked partner Fortune Property Group.

The latter project is due to commence construction immediately.

<h2>Big and bigger</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/image144_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Mark, Elsternwick. Image: Merbo Project Mnagement"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="255" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image144_1.jpg?itok=1gnQJogI" title="The Mark, Elsternwick. Image: Merbo Project Mnagement" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Mark, Elsternwick. Image: Merbo Project Management</figcaption></figure>Two apartment projects comprehensively rule the roost for size relative to all other projects at construction within Glen Eira.

Hacer Group will soon have <a href="/new-apartments/the-mark-441-glen-huntly-road-elsternwick">The Mark</a>, Elsternwick at 441-461 Glen Huntly Road excavated to its third basement level. Over the next 12-14 months, 173 new apartments will be built above and alongside a new Coles Supermarket and Liquorland outlet.

Larger still is the second stage of Caulfield Village which is BECK Property Group and Probuild's joint development of formerly vacant land adjacent to Caulfield Racecourse. With Caulfield Heath completed last year, a third tower crane will soon appear on the current build which sees 390 apartments across 4 buildings spanning up to 10 levels in height.

Ultimately the development partnership will introduce varies uses such as retail and services in future stages, in addition to the 1,500 apartments envisaged.
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Apartments spur Glen Eira's construction boom

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Council planners have paved the way for a substantial residential development within the Highpoint Major Activity Centre.

Last week Council ruled upon the proposal that accounts for an amalgamated 4,928 square metre site at 19-21 White Street. It represents the first application lodged for the immediate area since the land was rezoned into a mixed-use setting, and gained in-principle support from Maribyrnong City Council planners.

Council's City Development Special Committee considered the proposal last week for the site which runs off Rosamond Road, and which seeks to replace two large warehouses.

19-21 White Street sees developer Hengmao Australia and Elenberg Fraser converge once more; Hengmao Australia had a hand in <a href="https://www.hengmaoaustralia.com/projects">South Yarra's Lucia Apartments</a> which was designed by Elenberg Fraser. Whilst that project included 448 apartments, 19-21 White Street is set to yield a more modest 268 apartments.

<h2>19-21 White Street 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/image95_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Standing out in the expanses of Maribyrnong. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="343" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image95_4.jpg?itok=HdyFZUaN" title="Standing out in the expanses of Maribyrnong. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Standing out in the expanses of Maribyrnong. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Expected development cost: $80 million</li>
	<li>Site area: 4,928 square metres with 70.3 metre frontage</li>
	<li>12 storey mixed-use building: maximum building height of 41 metres</li>
	<li>268 dwellings: 75 x 1BR, 173 x 2BR, 20 x 3BR</li>
	<li>2 tenancies: 881 square metres</li>
	<li>Communal open space &amp; amenities: 1026 square metres</li>
	<li>2 basement levels: 363 car spaces &amp; 140 bicycles</li>
</ul>
<h2>First in for design </h2>

<blockquote>
The proposed development is the first ‘cab of the rank’ in this precinct of the Highpoint Major Activity Centre and sets a benchmark for a high quality design that should be used as an example in future development proposals.

The provision of a public plaza, visually interesting façade and provision of an active frontage with retail space at ground level should be applauded. The application also involves the consolidation of three lots which has attributed to the high quality design and equitable development opportunities for adjoining sites.

Site consolidation is also specifically encouraged by Council policy at this location.

The significant landscaping at podium level further softens the form and draws the attention away from the taller element. It is acknowledged that without the proposed separation, landscaping, site consolidation and recessed nature the additional height would have not been supported.
<cite>Report to Maribyrnong's City Development Special Committee</cite>
</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/image96.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Going green at street level. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="399" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image96.jpg?itok=k9lkJNdq" title="Going green at street level. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Going green at street level. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure><h2>Excellence over height</h2>

Despite a preferred height of ten storeys, planners saw fit to gloss over the extra two levels incorporated into the design.

Principally they believe that 19-21 White Street will set a design precedent for future projects within the activity centre. Site consolidation, building separation, a recessed taller element above the podium and an overall high architectural quality are stand out aspects of the H-shaped design.

Council planners also lauded the overall quality of finishes incorporated across the design, labelling the architectural expression "bold and striking." Pewter-coloured glazing dominates, supported by dark grey painted concrete and silver powder-coated metal screening. 

Surrounded by big-box retail outlets for the foreseeable future, the White Street proposal also includes two large-scale retail tenancies at ground level, with the larger tenancy at approximately 600 square metres.
</body></html>

Hengmao Australia moves on Maribyrnong's activity centre

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City of Melbourne did not mince their words last night in reacting to Heritage Victoria's refusal to allow Council to temporarily remove heritage sheds in order to facilitate the wider Queen Victoria Market rejuvenation.

Citing uncertainty as to whether the sheds could be returned to their original condition, coupled with the belief that the overall character of the market would be unacceptably altered, Heritage Victoria made their choice.

In response, a statement was circulated by Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood conveying Council's dismay at Heritage Victoria's decision, which appears to be a backflip relative to earlier negotiations. Warning that Queen Victoria Market was at risk of being "loved to death", the bulk of the statement reads as follows:

<blockquote>
Government bureaucracy now threatens the viability of the entire Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal Program. We will appeal this baffling decision which puts 60,000 future jobs, a new public open space and vital community facilities at risk.

The independent business case by SGS's highly respected and regarded Marcus Spiller stated that the renewal project would spur a $1.2 billion net community benefit to Victoria.

The benefit to cost ratio is 5:1 which is extremely high. This compares with the Melbourne Metro Rail Project at 1.5:1.

Heritage Victoria's decision has blindsided us: they have not consulted SGS to interrogate the veracity of their assessments. The public have a right to see the business case upon which Heritage Victoria have made this decision but this has been a closed door, bureaucratic process.

Strengthening of the heritage sheds must occur: it is an OHS issue, they are at danger of buckling during strong winds. If you don't renovate and repair heritage structures they will crumble, fall and be lost forever.

I find it hard to believe that they can restore the Parthenon but we can't restore the heritage sheds at Queen Victoria Market. 

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood
</blockquote>

The statement went on to mention that Council and the State Government both deem the renewal integral to the market's long-term viability, but based on Heritage Victoria's decision the business case for the renewal has changed significantly. This is particularly the case for Council-controlled Queen Victoria Market Pty Ltd which is overseeing the project.

A significant financial impost would be in turn placed upon Council's forecast budgets for the next 30 years.

Ramping up its dismay, City of Melbourne make note that "more than 60 comprehensive studies have been undertaken for every aspect of renewal including economic assessment and business cases, heritage studies, thematic studies, retail plans, masterplans, conservation and cultural heritage plans, structural and sustainability plans."

Furthermore council has effectively called Heritage Victoria hypocritical regarding their decision, noting that the former CEO of Heritage Victoria wrote to the City of Melbourne during 2016 stating "we understand the rationale for this and accept your advice that there is a need to treat the structures off-site and also to ensure their structural strengthening."

Beyond Council's initial reaction, an appeal to the Heritage Council is being prepared in order to effectively save the redevelopment.

Lead image: CBD News
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City of Melbourne lambaste Heritage Victoria, Queen Vic Market development "loved to death"

<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.

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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.

Mark Baljak

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