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Melbourne needs high quality mixed use employment precincts now more than ever.

Land use zoning in Australia has traditionally been used to separate activities, often based on the idea that residential, commercial and manufacturing activities are inherently incompatible.

In the new economy, this no longer holds true. In fact, it’s the opposite – many of the new economy jobs thrive on mixed-use, diversity and amenity. For a long time we have needed a zone which allows says a genuine mix of land uses to co-locate.

This is what the new Commercial 3 zone is intended to achieve.

Commercial 3 – a zone for creative industries, small manufacturers and startups.

The Commercial 3 zone is essentially a mixed-use employment zone which is intended to facilitate the establishment and growth of creative industries, small manufacturers and startup businesses. It prioritises particular uses that form part of the emerging economy (including new models of industrial, commercial/office and certain other employment-generating uses).

The nature of businesses operating within the emerging economy is much more diverse than in the past, which is why the Commercial 3 Zone provides for a wide diversity as ‘as of right’ uses. This includes arts and craft centres, education centres, home based business, certain types of Industry, manufacturing sales, markets, offices, and research centres.

<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/younghusband.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Younghusband Woolstore, Kensington - image: supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="414" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/younghusband.jpg?itok=Fh7pBhO-" title="Younghusband Woolstore, Kensington - image: supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Younghusband Woolstore, Kensington - image: supplied</figcaption></figure>The zone also allows complementary uses (including accommodation, small-scale retailing, places of assembly, and warehouses) that have the potential to contribute to the amenity and economic vibrancy of the locality. Floor area thresholds have been applied to these uses to reflect their role as small-scale activities within a mixed use employment context. Examples include:

<ul>
<li>
	Cafés, restaurants or bars can be established in this zone without the need for a planning permit, so long as they are 150sqm or less in floor area – a planning permit is required for larger premises.
	</li>
	<li>
	Activities like cabinetmaking, bakeries and smallgoods manufacturing can establish without the need for a planning permit, as can other industrial uses subject to satisfying certain buffer requirements.
	</li>
	<li>
	A Place of Assembly can be established in this zone without the need for a planning permit, so long as it is 200sqm or less – a planning permit is required for larger premises.
	</li>
	<li>
	A Shop of up to 200sqm and a warehouse of up to 500sqm can establish, subject to a planning permit being granted.
	</li>
</ul>
Planning permission can also be sought for dwellings and certain other types of residential buildings in the zone. However, the combined gross floor area of such uses must not exceed 35% of the combined gross floor area of all buildings on the lot.

It is possible for the Planning Authority to vary this percentage up or down via a schedule to this zone. However, the dwelling/residential building percentage can only be varied upwards to a maximum of 50%.

The intent of permitting these uses on a conditional basis is to complement economic activity and allow a genuine mix of uses to establish over time, but to also ensure that such uses do not end up displacing industrial, and commercial/office uses from such areas.

Of course, Melbourne’s existing industrial and commercial zones already accommodate many significant and important industries, a number of which depend upon separation from sensitive uses in order to continue their operations. In many instances, the best outcome will be to retain these areas in their existing zone.

In other instances, it will be a judgement call as to whether the ‘reverse amenity’ decision guidelines contained within the Commercial 3 zone are adequate enough to ensure that existing economic activities are not displaced by new sensitive uses. This will be an important factor in deciding whether to apply the Commercial 3 zone to an area or not.

Why do we need a new zone ?

The Australian economy and the way people perform work within it are changing radically. The line between ‘home’, work’ and ‘leisure’ is blurred and both employees and companies alike are seeking maximum flexibility with how work gets done. But our current zones don’t cater well for these changes.

Contemporary employment precincts and even individual developments will need to cater for the diversity and flexibility that businesses and workers are seeking. They need to incorporate a mix of activities such as bars, restaurants, recreational facilities, etc. as well as provide health, childcare, education and other services. In some instances, a precinct will also benefit from the inclusion of some forms of accommodation, to provide live-work opportunities and to create a level of vibrancy needed to support creative industries and associated activities.

The rapid rise of coworking in Melbourne is an obvious response to these changing workplace trends. But there are many other innovative models emerging as well, including lifestyle oriented workspaces, integrated living/working spaces artisan manufacturing spaces and a variety of creative spaces and cultural venue. You can read more about these models in Echelon’s <a href="http://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/unlocking-the-economy">report</a> on Melbourne’s enterprise areas.

All of these models are variants of a broader theme of mixed use and flexible buildings.

Even the scale and nature of manufacturing has begun to change. Today a single person can design produce and sell goods from their home, using digital design, printing, fabrication, and online marketing and sales platforms. There are far fewer reasons to separate where we live, work and play than there was in the past industrial eras.

This is why we need a new zone - to cater for a wide range of uses and to even allow for accommodation as part of the mix but in a way that does not displace employment activities.

Where would the commercial 3 zone apply ?

Melbourne is fortunate to have significant tracts of industrial and commercial zoned located near transport infrastructure in our inner and middle suburbs. These areas typically comprise older style buildings that have for many years offered affordable accommodation for a wide range of commercial and cultural activities, ranging from small scale manufacturing activities through to low-rent office and production spaces.   

<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/current_employment_zones.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Current employment zones in inner Melbourne - image: supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="416" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/current_employment_zones.jpg?itok=bM7GfwmN" title="Current employment zones in inner Melbourne - image: supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Current employment zones in inner Melbourne - image: supplied</figcaption></figure>Far from being economically redundant, these areas are perfect locations for the establishment and growth of new enterprises. So they are a valuable economic resource for our city, complementing the role of the Central City and Activity Centres. We need to nurture economic growth within them.

These areas have good bones that can play an important role in the incubation of creative industries, small batch manufacturing and startup companies.

Most of these areas are currently zoned Industrial, Commercial 2 or Mixed Use. None of these existing zones properly facilitate true mixed-use development. The Commercial 3 zone can be applied to locations that are considered to be well suited to growing new economy jobs – places that have a stock of relatively affordable buildings, are close to public transport, and are close to skilled workers and a large urban market of consumers.

Not every existing industrial or commercial area will be suitable for the Commercial 3 zone. In many instances, the best strategy for retaining or creating low-cost workspace for creative industries might be to simply leave the land in an industrial zone.

Where to next ?

The task ahead is for local Councils to determine whether and where to apply the Commercial 3 to land within their municipality. This decision needs to be informed by an assessment of the ongoing suitability of established industrial and commercial areas for different types of employment purposes, and whether there are locations where the Commercial 3 zone might facilitate growth in creative industries, etc.

Determining whether or not to permit residential use as part of the land use mix in a Commercial 3 zone will be the most challenging part of the equation for Councils to address. It won’t be appropriate to allow housing in every Commercial 3 precinct, but equally, not every employment precincts need to be set aside for single-use purpos­es. Achieving a mix of uses is a large part of what drives the amenity and dynamics that make places attractive for business.

However, residential uses are only intended to be permitted where it can be demonstrated that it will complement the employment and economic development focus of the zone. A thorough analysis of the potential commercial and land use impact of residential use will need to inform the strategic justification for any future proposals.

Melbourne and Victoria need high quality mixed use employment precincts now more than ever. The Commercial 3 zone is an innovative new tool to provide flexibility for a wide range of small scale activities to co-locate with office and light industrial activities.

It is a much-needed and very welcome new tool to help create foster and grow creative industry in this State.

Mark Woodland is a director of <a href="https://www.echelonplanning.com.au">Echelon Planning</a> and provided advice to the Victorian Government on emerging employment trends and the case for creating a new commercial zone to foster growth of creative industries and mixed use precincts. A copy of the report ‘Melbourne’s Enterprise Areas’ (Echelon, 2018) can be downloaded at <a href="https://www.planning.vic.gov.au/policy-and-strategy/unlocking-the-economy">planning.vic.gov.au</a>.

Lead image credit: Live/work development in <a href="http://www.bararchitekten.de/projects/oderberger">Berlin</a>.
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markwoodland

Victoria's Commercial 3 – a new zone for mixed use and creative industries

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What happens when the Prarie-Dogs abandon their cubicles?

Melbourne is experiencing an industrial revolution. Automation, globalisation and collaboration are profoundly changing the nature of work, including how and where we work. Yet the debate over Melbourne’s future planning barely gives any attention to these changes, or their implications for how our city works.

This article discusses these trends, as well as the positive role that collaborative work spaces are playing in adapting our city’s workforce to rapid change.

<h2>The rapid growth of freelancing</h2>

By 2020, freelancers are expected make up 40 percent of the entire Australian workforce. It’s a global trend - specialisation underpins today’s economy, and the unbundling of business functions and supply chains has created a substantial employment market where increasingly people act as independent contractors.

Today, more and more workers are engaged in flexible work (sometimes by choice, often by circumstance). The ‘portfolio career’ is now common and collaboration with other independent contractors to get things done is the new norm for many skilled workers.

Already, around 30% of Australia’s workforce is engaged in flexible work, including moonlighting, multiple part time and casual roles and independent contracting.

Technology is a driving factor - it is displacing many jobs but it is also making being a self-employed global worker easier than ever. Think of platforms such as 99designs, Freelancer, Uber and Airtasker, where the buyer and sellers of skills and services can interact instantaneously and at low cost. The ‘sharing’ or ‘on-demand’ economy, and ‘peer to peer capitalism’ are the new buzzwords.

So the barriers to trying new ideas and starting new businesses are lower than ever, and technology provides greater flexibility to work when and how you want.

<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/prentice2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Prentice Street Studio, Brunswick"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/prentice2.jpg?itok=r63UJO2b" title="Prentice Street Studio, Brunswick" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Prentice Street Studio, Brunswick</figcaption></figure><h2>New work places for the self-employed</h2>

But I have been wondering for some time, where do all of these freelancers and self-employed people work from, and how do they collaborate with one another? 

Not every freelancer works from home or collaborates online. Many need to be amongst other people for social contact, intellectual stimulation and networking. Many startups and small businesses thrive in clusters on the fringes of the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs. It is becoming obvious why.

Rental costs are only part of the answer, and in fact in many instances they are secondary to factors like flexibility, amenity and culture. Small businesses and freelancers are increasingly seeking out neighbourhods that are accessible, have high amenity, and good IT services. Workers want to be close to home, social and recreational activities, and not spend hours on end stuck on public transport or freeways.

Hubs create attractive social communities – they are places where workers can feel part of a wider community. All work has a social element to it, which is why people will always seek out work spaces which create opportunities to interact with others.

The problem is that in many suburbs there are simply no suitable office accommodation options.

The conventional Melbourne office market doesn’t cater well to the needs of startups and small businesses. Even where it exists, the typical office space is much larger that a sole-trader or small company needs, and the fitouts usually comprise uninspiring partitions and cubicles. Commercial leases are typically long term and inflexible and if refurbishment is required (it usually is) the fitout costs are expensive.

Co-working spaces overcome all of these issues, and they are increasingly becoming the workspace of choice for small businesses and freelancers.

<h2>The rapid rise of co-working</h2>

The co-work model is no longer merely the domain of creative artists and millennial startups. In fact it has become a big real estate deal across the globe.

The world’s largest provider of co-work spaces (WeWork) was founded less than six years ago it is already valued as a $16 billion business. WeWork already has over 54 co-working locations across the U.S. and Europe. It has plans to expand to reach every continent (except Antarctica) by the end of 2017, and WeWork will establish its first site in Melbourne in coming months.

WeWork have clearly worked out that there is a very sizeable gap in how the real estate market caters for small business, right across the globe. Companies like GPT, Regus and Dexus are now following in their footsteps.

But it’s not just the global real estate entrepeneurs who have seen the gap. Australia has recorded the highest growth of co-working spaces in the world (per capita). Knight Frank Research have identified that Melbourne now has more than 170 co-working spaces, and that there has been a 940% rate of growth in such spaces since 2013.

With niches ranging from technology, the arts and even (controversially) single-sex office studios, these shared-workspaces are literally the incubators of new work models for the future economy.

<h2>The Prentice Street Studios</h2>

Echelon Planning has established its own co-work space (<a href="http://www.prenticestudios.com.au/">www.prenticestudios.com.au</a>). We are small but growing consultancy business, and we were seeking a work environment that offered flexibility, high amenity and a strong identity. The conventional office rental market was nothing short of depressing, and so we decided to create our own space.

It’s a refurbished 1970’s warehouse in Brunswick, right near the train station. It’s got lots of light, lots of greenery, NBN, and a fantastic interior designed by Tonya Hinde (now with Billard Leece Partnership). The studio aesthetic is well above the usual ramshackle inner city warehouse vibe, and it so much more charm and personality than the typical ‘prarie-dog cubicle’ experience.

<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/prentice_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Prentice Street Studio, Brunswick"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/prentice_1.jpg?itok=tVMPogtl" title="Prentice Street Studio, Brunswick" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Prentice Street Studio, Brunswick</figcaption></figure> 

The conventional wisdom is that there is limited demand for office space in the suburbs. Our experience in the inner-north at least is that there is demand, but there simply hasn’t been a supply of suitable office space to cater for the needs of people seeking workspaces.

The Prentice Street studio is filling a gap in the local office market. In the short few months since the Studio opened its doors, we have fielded a steady stream of inquiries from self-employed and small businesses people looking for a local alternative to the CBD or the home office. There is no shortage of demand but it is highly localised to the demographics of the region, so outside of a CBD setting it’s not such a visible choice for investors seeking a quick return on their investment.

Delivering ‘new ideas for old buildings' is more expensive and complicated than it should be. Our experience has been that it can only be achieved on a very lean business model, and it requires a particular expertise, local knowledge and determination in order to achieve results.

<h2>The city-planning implications of the co-work revolution</h2>

The Grattan Institute wrote in 2013 that the options for creating a more productive Melbourne were to bring jobs closer to people, bring people closer to jobs, or improve transport links between the two. It argued that the best option was to bring people closer to jobs. Whilst I certainly agree that more housing is needed in Melbourne’s established areas, much more could be done to facilitate businesses in established areas.

Greater Melbourne is forecast to have an additional 800,000 jobs in the coming 15 years. So where and how will the floorspace come from to meet these needs? I doubt that it will all be in the CBD, Docklands or Fishermans Bend.

If the vision of 20-minute neighbourhoods is to be realised, then Melbourne needs more work-spaces distributed across our city. The emergence of co-work spaces across inner Melbourne has been an organic response to an unmet demand for new workplace options. Knight Frank estimate that 24 new co-working spaces have opened in the past 12 months alone. These facilities offer a type of workspace that simply didn’t exist in Melbourne’s inner suburbs a few years ago.

Many co-work spaces establish in industrial areas or in older commercial spaces, where the rents are affordable. These locations are usually hotspots for urban renewal and land rezoning. Strong demand for housing typically displaces commercial floorspace in such situations.

<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/map.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Inner Melbourne has substantial older areas of industrial land which are well suited for employment-generating activities (map source – Echelon Planning)"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="417" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/map.jpg?itok=25ZkQJ81" title="Inner Melbourne has substantial older areas of industrial land which are well suited for employment-generating activities (map source – Echelon Planning)" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Inner Melbourne has substantial older areas of industrial land which are well suited for employment-generating activities (map source – Echelon Planning)</figcaption></figure> 

This is where planning can play a critical role. The challenge is for the planning system to find the right balance between regulation and facilitation:

<ul>
<li>
	Employment land should be retained where there is a reasonable prospect that it will be renewed to foster business and jobs growth.
	</li>
	<li>
	Not all employment precincts need to be set aside for single-use purposes. Achieving a mix of uses is a large part of what drives the amenity and dynamics that make places attractive for business. Achieving mixed use via vertical zoning can be used to create new commercial floorpsace, but only in locations that can sustain such activities. Such strategies should be used judiciously as there are many locations will not have the level of accessibility or amenity needed to sustain commercial activity.
	</li>
	<li>
	There are many planning and building regulations that act as barriers to the reuse of existing buildings for co-work purposes. These should be reviewed and removed wherever possible.
	</li>
	<li>
	Having an identifiable ‘place for business’ across our suburbs will become increasingly important. This requires urban planning to respond to the finer grained trends happening in the local property market and having a nuanced approach to land zoning, planning policies and regulations.
	</li>
	<li>
	At a local level, local Councils play an important role in bringing local business together via ‘placemaking’ programs and economic development initiatives.
	</li>
</ul>
Co-working is a relatively new business model that is very different to the conventional office market. It is one that deserves to be better understood because it offers a substantial potential to foster the growth of small business in a variety of metropolitan and even regional locations.

Just like Uber is disrupting transport systems, companies like WeWork look set to disrupt the real estate market. The co-work model is not exclusive domain of large development companies. It has its origins within the start-up community, and it is relatively accessible to smaller developers, investors and businesses alike.

The Prentice St Studio just one success story amongst many – it is wonderful workspace that enables like-minded individuals to work in a dynamic, energetic and collaborative environment. I look forward to city planning better embracing and supporting the growth of co-work spaces like ours right across Melbourne in the coming years.

Mark Woodland is a director of <a href="https://www.echelonplanning.com.au/">Echelon Planning</a>.
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Retaining and creating spaces for the collaborative work revolution

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The Victorian Government has recently released a series of detailed reports to inform the ‘Managing Residential Development’ Advisory Committee submissions process. They raise many important questions not only about the residential zones but the wider issue of ‘who and what are we planning for’ over the coming decade and beyond.

What follows is a summary of some of the more attention grabbing parts of the reports, together with our own observations about the bigger picture issues that the forthcoming Advisory Committee might need to address.

<h2>Urban redevelopment is finally a dominant part of Melbourne's housing supply</h2>

According to the State of Play report:

<ul>
<li>Redevelopment of exiting commercial, mixed use and former industrial areas has accounted for 42% of Melbourne’s housing supply in recent years. This includes major redevelopment sites identified in the Urban Development Program, as well as land within Commercial, Mixed Use, Capital City, Docklands and various Priority Development/Comprehensive Development zones.</li>
	<li>Melbourne’s growth areas have provided around 31% of the annual new housing supply over the past four years. This is a much lower share than in previous periods.</li>
	<li>Residential infill development still provided for around 25% of Melbourne’s overall housing supply over the past four years. This remains a vital part of the housing diversity and affordability equation for our city.</li>
</ul>
After years of debate, urban consolidation is now writ large in Melbourne’s streets and suburbs. It appears set to remain a major part of our city’s future growth for decades to come.

The State of Play reports provide a very useful snapshot of where higher residential development is currently permitted under residential and other zones across Melbourne. Only about 5 percent of land in metropolitan Melbourne is included within zones that support higher density development.

This includes the Residential Growth Zone (RGZ), Capital City Zone, Commercial 1, Activity Centre and Mixed Use zone.

At the other end of the spectrum, of all the zones that allow for residential (including commercial) almost 13 percent of residential land supply in metropolitan Melbourne is included within the Neighbourhood Residential Zone (NRZ).

There are also some significant differences in how residential land across Melbourne is zoned - notably, 30 percent of land in the eastern metropolitan region is included within the NRZ, compared with 7.4% in Melbourne’s western region. Some will argue that this reflects historic and environmental differences between Melbourne’s east and west, but many others will have a different interpretation.

<h2>What do we know about the early impact of the new residential zones?</h2>

The State of Play report notes that it is too early to track the impacts of the new zones on development trends, because much of the recent development are based on planning approvals that pre-date their implementation. It rather tactfully notes that:

<blockquote>
It is possible that the supply of new medium density dwellings in [Boroondara, Glen Eira and Bayside] will decline in response to the NRZ and while this is unlikely to generate supply impacts of metropolitan significance, at a local level this might add to issues of housing diversity, choice and price…
</blockquote>

The report also notes that whilst the mandatory nature of the new residential zones fundamentally increases certainty over the likely development outcomes, it may also have unintended consequences, for example by limiting the development potential of larger lots and impacting on the pitch of roofs (for example).

<h2>The challenges facing planning for residential growth in Melbourne</h2>

“Alice: Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?

Cheshire Cat: That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.

Alice: I don’t much care where.

Cheshire Cat: Then it doesn’t much matter which way you go.”

What is the overall housing policy that residential zone reform is intended to achieve?

The current State planning policy contains some general directions for facilitating housing growth near services and public transport, and it also requires planning to consider Victorian Government population projections (Victoria in Future). The big question right now is whether or not the zone reforms are expected to contribute towards realising the 70% infill/30% growth area housing distribution target identified in the Plan Melbourne Refresh.

What might a 70/30 housing target mean for realising infill development?

VIF 2015 suggests that Melbourne will need an additional 388,000 new homes in the next decade. Under a 70/30 policy, this equates to almost 272,000 homes being built in established areas.

The latest Urban Development Program (2015) suggests that a staggering 128,000 dwellings will be constructed on major residential redevelopment projects (i.e. those yielding 10 dwellings or more) over the next two years alone (notably, this is almost double what the 2014 UDP estimates for the same period). But even with this level of development, a further 144,000 homes will still need to be built in Melbourne’s established areas between 2016 and 2026.

The Advisory Committee will therefore need to turn its mind to how planning schemes across Melbourne can actively facilitate this scale of change, whilst still addressing heritage, character, environmental and other factors.

Local population forecasts have their limits.

Councils will often argue that their housing strategies are justified because they demonstrate a capacity to meet forecast housing needs. At face value, this seems reasonable. However, what rarely gets discussed is the extent to which municipal forecasts are ‘self-fulfilling’ because of the housing capacity assumptions that they are based on in the first place.

It is refreshing to see this point acknowledged in the Residential Zone State Of Play report:

<blockquote>
At a metropolitan scale, Victoria in Future projections rely on demographic factors such as births, deaths and migration, and the link to household growth to explain expected demand for new dwellings. However, at the municipal and suburban level, the distribution of future population growth is determined by the relationship between strong overall housing demand and knowledge of locations that are expected to add new dwellings.

Population growth is, therefore, projected to be the strongest in locations where the most number of dwellings can be accommodated. These locations include sites such as disused industrial land, and Melbourne’s Central Subregion where development occurs at the greatest densities.
</blockquote>

In other words, municipal-scale population forecasts are heavily influenced by the assumptions made about the capacity for new housing growth at the local level. If it is assumed that an area doesn’t have capacity, then the metropolitan distribution of population growth to that area will be limited by such assumptions.

More analysis of housing capacity is needed to inform housing plans and zone reform.

Whilst Echelon Planning would debate various aspects of the recent ‘Melbourne at 8 million’ report (RMIT, October 2015), I wholeheartedly agree with its authors that more work is required at the metropolitan and local level to understand housing capacity in different parts of our city.

I think that the review of residential development frameworks should be informed by a better understanding of housing capacity in different locations.

The RMIT report provides a useful starting point for such an analysis. There is a clear role for the Victorian Government to lead such a process, and I suspect that much of the data needed to underpin this sort of analysis already exists within State and local government.

We need to look beyond just the residential zones.

Much of Melbourne’s future housing growth will occur in activity centres, commercial mixed use and former industrial areas. Again, it will be critical to understand the capacity of these areas to accommodate future housing growth.

The planning frameworks for these locations should enable higher densities – if the desire to ‘protect the suburbs’ prevails then it will be more important than ever to avoid placing onerous height restrictions on local activity centres and larger infill sites.

Zoning controls should more clearly give effect to policy outcomes.

It is clear that the rollout of the new residential zones has already created a myriad of zones and schedules that threaten to rival the labrynthine zones of the 1980’s ‘pre-VPP’ era.

The general housing types and densities permitted within each zone should be clear, and getting approval for ‘complying’ development should be streamlined. It also seems obvious to say that if land is included in a General Residential Zone then the resulting development should not end up resembling what might be permitted under the Neighbourhood Residential Zone.

Footnote: Suggested improvements to the Residential Zones.

The Victorian Government has also identified a list of 82 possible improvements to the residential zones. These are well worth reading, and submitters might well wish to make comment about specific suggestions contained within this list.

For further details go to:

<a href="http://www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/planning/panels-and-committees/current-panels-and-committees/managing-residential-development">http://www.dtpli.vic.gov.au/planning/panels-and-committees/current-panels-and-committees/managing-residential-development</a>

Submissions on the review close on Monday 29th February.

Mark Woodland is Director at <a href="http://echelonplanning.com.au/">Echelon Planning</a>, a Brunswick-based boutique urban planning consultancy.
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Melbourne’s residential development: what’s really going on?

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The ‘six pack’ flat and all of its variants have consistently provided an affordable alternative to the detached house in suburban Melbourne for over 80 years. All signs point to contemporary versions of the traditional ‘flat’ playing an essential role in meeting future housing needs.

If Melbourne is to cope with the sort of growth forecast in the coming 20 years, then more people will need to embrace apartment living. Around one-third of our future housing need is expected to be in our suburbs, so for many people, these needs will be best met by low-rise apartments in middle and even outer suburban Melbourne.

Yet the job of getting on with delivering more suburban apartments seems to have been side-stepped in the rush to avoid the sort of suburban backlash that caused political havoc in the mid 2000’s.

Housing supply in Melbourne’s established suburbs will need to move beyond townhouses and a few apartments in shopping centres. We need to find a way to deliver new forms of well-designed low-rise flats for the 21st century.

<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/sub_flat_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Source: Domain"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sub_flat_1.jpg?itok=pUKM3Y5g" title="Source: Domain" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Source: <a href="http://b.domainstatic.com.au/w800-h533-2011776625_2_pi_150315_062818">Domain</a></figcaption></figure><h2>Melbourne’s rich history of flat design</h2>

Melburnians have a largely unheralded history of living in flats. In the pre-war era, flats were the dwelling of choice for wealthy bohemians looking for an alternative to the terrace or suburban bungalow.

The Art-Deco ‘garden flat' with its central courtyard and separate entrances became somewhat of a Melbourne design signature. The pre-war era saw many notable flat complexes constructed, most of which are now prized for their architectural quality and distinctive interiors.

The 1950's and 60’s brought on a flat boom, and the advent of the ubiquitous ‘six pack’ flat. The Uniform Building Regulations and municipal planning controls in the 1950’s led to the creation of the six pack typology which delivered the largest yield from the permitted building envelopes.

Whilst many regard them as ugly ducklings, these flats provided a valuable source of affordable housing in transport and job-rich locations across inner and Middle Melbourne in the post war ‘long boom’.

The common failings of the six pack were less about their interior design than their relationship to adjoining buildings, backyards and streetscapes. They took their amenity from the neighbours gardens and the ground plane was largely dedicated to car access and parking. These narrow corridors of land along boundaries provided basic daylight access and the minimum permissible separation from neighbours.

Despite these stark design shortcomings, walk-ups provided very affordable rental accommodation for migrants, low income families and young adults. In fact they continue to provide an important supply of affordable housing in suburbs that would otherwise be completely out of reach of low and middle income earners.

<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/sub_flat_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Source: REA Media"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sub_flat_2.jpg?itok=kGG_4nrI" title="Source: REA Media" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Source: <a href="http://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-eaglemont-118996819">REA Media</a></figcaption></figure><h2>The demise of the Six-Pack</h2>

The collapse in the flat market in the late 1970’s was partly, but not entirely, driven by public backlash and more restrictive planning controls. Economics were also at play, as housing demand by baby boomers weakened, interest rates increased and the price of land in inner Melbourne escalated.

The early 1990’s saw the creation of new residential design codes to facilitate low-rise residential development across Melbourne’s suburbs. These codes re-shaped medium density housing typologies across suburban Melbourne. The walk up flat disappeared and was replaced by one and two storey townhouse developments.

Well-heeled suburbs like Camberwell and Balwyn experienced a rapid growth in townhouses, which then led to the ‘Save Our Suburbs’ backlash has politicised residential development ever since.

Resident opposition to infill development saw many Councils codify neighbourhood character policies in their planning schemes. These policies were viewed sceptically by many as a tool to limit urban consolidation, or a “code for keeping things as they are … the ethos is exclusionary and anti-change.”[1]

The debate over what the term neighbourhood character means in the context of a rapidly growing city continues to this day.

<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/sub_flat_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Source: Homehound"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sub_flat_3.jpg?itok=BEFSTCWV" title="Source: Homehound" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Source: <a href="http://photos.homehound.com.au/SL2/24/305591/26476683_09_x.jpg">Homehound</a></figcaption></figure><h2>New suburban flats for the 21st Century</h2>

Low-rise apartments are needed in accessible locations right across suburban Melbourne. They make a great contribution towards housing diversity, affordability and urban consolidation – they can deliver densities of 45-60 dwellings/ha whereas townhouses typically yield circa 30 dwellings/ha.

Applying a paradigm of preserving neighbourhood character everywhere simply won’t deliver the housing outcomes we need. Residential zoning along transport corridors, around shopping centres and train stations needs to actively facilitate contemporary apartment typologies, and it’s time we began to simply accept the fact that these locations will change in character as part of Melbourne’s evolution.

If we are to avoid the public backlash against flats of in the 1960s then a nuanced approach is needed to the design of the modern flat. There are plenty of excellent contemporary examples to be found across Melbourne.

Contemporary suburban flat developments will necessarily be multi-storey buildings. They will be modestly taller than the traditional suburban bungalow, and they will not conform to narrow definitions of ‘existing neighbourhood character'. They will be better designed and better neighbours than their 1970's antecedents.

There is an urgent need to revisit zoning across suburban Melbourne to promote more low-rise apartments in accessible locations, as well as focusing our collective efforts on design issues such as:

<ul>
<li>Promoting lot consolidation to enable better integrated flat designs;</li>
	<li>Promoting quality internal design of apartments rather than the obsessing over the size of apartments;</li>
	<li>Providing shared facilities such as common gardens, laundries, car-share schemes, dining facilities, rooftop decks, etc.;</li>
	<li>Providing less on-site parking in locations well served by other transport options;</li>
	<li>Greater use of basement and semi- basement parking to free up ground space for built form and greenery;</li>
	<li>Promoting the use of durable, low maintenance construction materials;</li>
	<li>Improving the environmental performance of dwellings.</li>
</ul>
I think that Melbourne would be better off if the community at large were more concerned with these design challenges rather than attempting to shoehorn new apartment designs into rigidly defined notions of ‘existing suburban character’.

[1] An expression used by the developer of the award winning St Leonard apartments (St Kilda) at the time of Rescode’s release in 2001.

Mark Woodland is a director of <a href="http://echelonplanning.com.au/">Echelon Planning</a>.
</body></html>

Dear Melbourne: it’s time to bring back the suburban flat

Macquarie York has appointed Roberts Co to as the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) partner for its upcoming new Surfers Paradise apartment development, Sunset Residence.

Located at 50 Sunset Boulevard, Sunset Residences is a riverfront, design-driven tower set to elevate one of Surfers Paradise’s most rapidly transforming enclaves. The refined scheme, designed by Plus Studio, features 72 luxury residences, enhanced amenity, and improved connectivity to the Nerang &nbsp;River.&nbsp;

As ECI partner, Roberts Co is working closely with Macquarie York and the design team to optimise buildability, program, staging and procurement strategies ahead of construction commencement.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Macquarie York Director, Roy Skaf, said Roberts Co’s early engagement will help ensure the landmark development realises its full potential.&nbsp;

“Sunset Residences is a signature project for Macquarie York, a chance to define a new level of riverfront living in Surfers Paradise," Skaf said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<img alt="Roberts Co appointed Early Contractor Involvement partner for Macquarie York’s Sunset Residences on the Gold Coast" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3dd22a45-168b-4e00-b6d2-4e7310b02084" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/SunsetResidences_Interior.jpg?VersionId=NAWvGq7l6BFB4vvh6u0xXWWISboHTi6q" />

“Partnering with Roberts Co under an ECI arrangement gives us the confidence that design decisions, construction methodology and programming are being rigorously considered from day one. Their collaborative mindset and technical capability are exactly what a project of this quality demands.”&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Construction is expected to commence following completion of the ECI phase and final design resolution.

Sunset Residences is one of three projects Macquarie York has locally. They have Rana Palm Beach, 60 apartments on Twenty Third Avenue, and Azariah, just nine residences on the dress circle Jefferson Lane, also in Palm Beach.

Joel Robinson

Macquarie York appoints Roberts & Co for early works agreement at Sunset Residences

Few developers in South East Queensland have shaped the new development apartment market as profoundly, or as consistently, as Mosaic Property Group. In 2025, the business delivered another very strong year across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast, building on the foundations of nearly two decades of discipline, long-term thinking, and relentless refinement of its craft.

Their continued success is driven from the top. Founder and Managing Director Brook Monahan, very much credits the success to a workforce of “massive grafters”, and a culture where complacency simply doesn’t exist.

“In every part of our business, we’re constantly pushing to get better” Monahan told <a href="http://apartments.com.au">Apartments.com.au</a>. “We never rest on our laurels.”

The company’s growth continued its upward trajectory, with the developer completing six luxury projects in 2025, representing approximately $850 million in value and delivering 536 new luxury homes. Mosaic also sold over $1.4 billion worth a new luxury apartments at an average price point of $3.41 million in 2025.

Heading into 2026, they have a further five projects under construction and an immediate pipeline across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, representing just shy of $2 billion in value. I spoke with Brook about everything from the evolution of Mosaic’s business to the fundamentals driving the SEQ property market.

<hr />
<h2>A market defined by two forces</h2>

The fundamental drivers of SEQ’s housing dynamics in 2025 are straightforward: a generational transfer of wealth on a scale Australia has never seen, and migration numbers that continue to exceed expectations.

“An enormous amount of wealth will move through the next decade,” Monahan explains. “That wave isn’t going anywhere.” Simultaneously, “you can’t run migration at the numbers we’re seeing, while also having a generational shift of wealth from boomers, and not expect demand to remain strong. People move here, they bring money, they want to buy a home and create a future.”

While top-end product in some pockets has softened from the frenzy of 18 months ago, Monahan believes&nbsp; the wave will remain “pretty strong,” especially for developers with brand trust and a long-term track record.&nbsp;

“The $4 million to $10 million segment remains fairly robust, but buyers are much more educated now than they’ve ever been. They have access to information and they’re smart people. They’re generally not&nbsp; willing to trust a new entrant asking $15 million with no track record.”

This heightened consumer discernment, he notes, is reshaping how premium projects are evaluated by developers.

<hr />
<h2>The problem behind the crisis</h2>

Despite strong demand, SEQ’s housing market remains severely undersupplied. Brisbane needs around 12,000 new homes per year, yet delivered only 4,000 last year. The Gold Coast requires around 6500 but delivered less than half of that. The backlog is massive.

“We’re probably 54,000 homes short in the next five years in Brisbane alone,” Monahan estimates. “Maybe 100,000 across the whole of Queensland.”

The core issue however isn’t planning.&nbsp;

“The planning environment is actually super supportive right now,” he says. “Approvals aren’t the problem. It’s turning approvals into real supply.”

The gap between development approvals and project starts has widened significantly as construction costs escalate, contractors disappear from the market, and inexperienced developers try, and fail, to bring projects to life.

“A development application (DA) is only part of the equation, it means little without the ability to deliver,” he explains. “Many applicants underestimate the complexity involved. It’s not just about securing a site; you need the right formula and all the right ingredients to make it work. Without that, the end result will fall short of expectations and increase the risk of project failure.

The result is market distortion: sites tied up by entrants who lack experience, capital certainty, construction understanding, or a realistic feasibility model. “It’s not good for the industry,” he says. “You get more and more mooted supply but very little real delivery.”

<hr />
<h2>Construction realities and the coming resource crunch</h2>

Beyond development capability, SEQ faces macroeconomic pressures. Over $7 billion must be delivered by late 2031 just for Olympics-related obligations. Add $18 billion in hospital and health infrastructure, and the region faces a “resource drain” Monahan believes will reshape delivery timelines and construction pricing for years.

“It will ultimately be great for SEQ for the next 20 years,” he says. “But it puts enormous pressure on an already chronically undersupplied housing market.”

This pressure will inevitably influence pricing. Double-digit growth cannot continue indefinitely, but Monahan sees no path to meaningfully lower construction costs. “It’s impossible to meet demand at a cheaper price point given labour capability and resource competition,” he says.

“Those who can afford it will keep paying more and the rest are fighting to get a foothold. That’s why the market keeps creeping upward.”

<hr />
<h2>Mosaic’s disciplined blueprint: Only A-Grade, iconic, irreplicable</h2>

With a long track record of delivery and in-house construction expertise, Mosaic works backwards from the cost of delivery to determine the right price for a site—a disciplined acquisition model they’ve adhered to from day one.

&nbsp;“We’re never out of the market,” Monahan says. “But we’re extremely disciplined. We don’t buy B+ sites. We won’t buy run-of-the-mill locations. Ever. That’s not our brand and it’s also not economically viable for us in most instances.”

Mosaic’s nine current developments illustrate this discipline:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lily-by-mosaic-4-rosewood-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Lily</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/marella-146-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">Marella</a>, Broadbeach: Two 30-storey buildings with permanently protected views over parkland, beach and coastline 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/isabel-by-mosaic-96-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Isabel</a> and, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/josephine-by-mosaic-166-the-esplanade-burleigh-heads-qld-4220">Jospehine</a>, Burleigh Heads – all “masterpiece” sites on the Esplanade with enduring view corridors of beach, water and coastline in the heart of Burleigh 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sophia-by-mosaic-1357-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Sophia</a>, Palm Beach- directly on the dunes of the most highly sought after stretch of northern Palm Beach beachfront real estate 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/madeline-by-mosaic-22-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">Madeline</a>, Broadbeach – “180 degrees beach, water and coastline views, great walk score” 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-bedford-by-mosaic-16-30-prospect-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Bedford</a>, Kangaroo Point – a site Mosaic first identified in 2016. Amazing walk score, views and inner city connectivity 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-carter-by-mosaic-77-linton-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">The Carter</a>, Kangaroo Point – in between the Gabba and the Kangaroo Point peninsula with amazing walk score and uninterrupted and expansive northern city and river views 
	&nbsp;</li>
	<li aria-level="1">South Brisbane (launching 2026) – core inner-city Brisbane river waterfront site on the northern end of the peninsula with amazing river connection and permanent river and city views, amazing walk score</li>
</ul>

“Nothing we buy is guesswork,” Monahan says. “It’s always an iconic suburb where people genuinely want to live, with strong connections to water, lifestyle, amenity, or permanent view corridors.”

“Mosaic’s two most recent Brisbane acquisitions were several years in the making. The Bedford, launched on the prestigious Kangaroo Point peninsula and achieving 90 per cent sales within months was a site they identified back in 2016. The second, which is the yet to be released at 91 Montague Road in South Brisbane, has been on Mosaic’s radar since 2017.&nbsp;

Arguably one of Brisbane’s last great inner city riverfront sites, it sits within the city’s most dynamic cultural hub, offering unrivalled connectivity, lifestyle, and amenity, and standing as a landmark opportunity to define the next era of riverfront living.

“We know exactly what is and isn’t a Mosaic project. Strategic site selection is the critical foundation of everything we do. We’re always assessing opportunities, but based on our two most recent Brisbane acquisitions, it’s entirely possible that the sites we’re looking at today won’t transact for several years. That discipline is what ensures every project meets our exacting standards.”

<hr />
<h2>The Mosaic engine: Consistency, capability, and relentless execution</h2>

What separates Mosaic in a crowded field is not the ability to attract capital or buy a site, but the ability to deliver highly complex high end buildings, whether that is 37 storeys or 18 storeys, repeatedly and consistently.

“These buildings are inherently complex to deliver well,” Monahan says. “It takes a long time to know exactly what the market wants, how to deliver it, how to secure the right contractors and consultants, and how to align the product with what the market is actually willing to pay and can afford.”

With so many contractors exiting the market in recent years, genuine delivery capability has become increasingly rare. Monahan welcomes credible new entrants but cautions that underestimating the complexity of luxury development can lead to poor outcomes.&nbsp;

“It’s easy to assume high-end projects equal high returns, but without the right experience, track record, and capability, it’s a tough road. Attracting capital is one thing—delivering on expectations is another, and when that doesn’t happen, it impacts the entire market.’”

<hr />
<h2>Looking to 2026: A pipeline built on patience and precision</h2>

As 2025 draws to a close, Mosaic stands at the strongest point in its history. Since 2012 alone, the company has completed more than $2 billion in projects and is set to deliver another $2 billion worth of developments, hundreds of luxury apartments, all bearing Mosaic’s hallmark of impeccable delivery.&nbsp;

Next to launch are two standout projects: Josephine, an exclusive collection of just 30 half- and full-floor ultra-luxury residences coming soon to the Burleigh Heads beachfront, and a landmark tower on Montague Road in South Brisbane, comprising 204 apartments in the heart of the city’s cultural hub on the banks of the Brisbane river.

“We never arrive. There’s no finish line for us,” said Monahan. “Our focus is on continuing to evolve in the luxury space, creating incredible, design- and lifestyle-led properties that people love living in and that stand the test of time.” 
&nbsp;

What’s ahead for South East Queensland’s next development wave: Five minutes with Mosaic’s Brook Monahan

Developer Third.i has topped out its luxury Potts Point apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/muse-potts-point-30-34-brougham-street-potts-point-nsw-2011">Muse</a>.

Under construction by Dilcara and expected to complete in mid-2026, Muse comprises just 13 apartments designed by acclaimed architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/wmk-architecture">WMK Architecture</a> and Mathieson. The building’s design celebrates Potts Point’s heritage character while introducing refined modern elements like advanced building technology and private balconies and terraces that offer views of the Sydney city skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112613 project_image_fid=231687]

Luke Berry, Director &amp; Co-Founder at Thirdi Group, said Muse is a celebration of Potts Point’s unique character and charm.

"With only 13 residences, we’ve created something truly special for those who appreciate exclusivity and design excellence," Berry says"

"The views, the location, and the lifestyle make Muse a rare opportunity in Sydney’s property market. We’re thrilled to see the project take shape and look forward to welcoming our residents in mid-2026.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112613 project_image_fid=231686]

Only a limited number of residences remain at Muse.

Third.i recently launched The Rushcutters nearby, also just 13 large-scale apartments. The two-bedroom apartments were all snapped up in double-quick time. The three-bedroom apartments are priced from just under $5 million.

Potts Point has always been popular for apartment living, but given the lack of suitable development sites in the affluent suburb, new apartment developments have been few and far between.

Early next year Ceerose will launch <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/belgravia-potts-point-117-victoria-street-potts-point-nsw-2011">Belgravia</a>, a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments on Victoria Street.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112613]

Staff Writer

Third.i tops out Muse, Potts Point apartments

Buyer interest in Capital Corporation’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate-169-fox-valley-road-wahroonga-nsw-2076">The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a> has been gaining momentum following the recent groundbreaking and the commencement of construction.

Enquiry data has pointed to a clear theme: larger apartments are leading demand, particularly among downsizers who want to remain on Sydney’s Upper North Shore.

Since June, three-bedroom layouts have attracted the highest level of enquiry. The three-bed, two-bath, two-car apartments priced from $1.69 million generated the most enquiries, the highest of any floorplan, followed by the larger three-bed garden residences which are priced at $2.25 million.

It's been a prevailing theme for Capital Corporation, who, in the early stages of marketing, reacted to buyer feedback to create more three-bedroom apartments.

The numbers echo what <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/capital-corporation">Capital Corporation</a> has observed since the project’s early stages. Buyers want generous internal space, established amenity and the ability to age in place without leaving the area.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=284378]

Capital Corporation Managing Director Jim Hunter said this was a major factor in the estate’s momentum, noting that “the combination of premium design, convenience and direct access to Sydney’s leading private hospital has proven to be a major drawcard”.

That connection to health and wellbeing has proven especially influential for older owner-occupiers. Research commissioned by Capital Corporation found that one in three Australians downsizing do so for health-related reasons, with a third specifically seeking proximity to medical facilities.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=262185]

The buyer profile emerging at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/wahroonga-nsw-2076">Wahroonga</a> Estate reflects this shift. Local residents Peter and Corinne Collins, both in their mid-70s, are among those who chose to downsize within the suburb after decades in their family home. They secured a top-floor three-bedroom apartment after queuing on launch day in March, citing the bushland setting, walkability, and peace of mind of being close to medical services as key reasons for their purchase.

“Being able to walk everywhere, including to the hospital if we need to, really gave us peace of mind,” Corinne told Apartments.com.au.

Read more: <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/from-family-home-to-bushland-retreat-why-peter-and-corinne-chose-the-residences-at-wahroonga-estate">From family home to bushland retreat: Why Peter and Corinne chose The Residences at Wahroonga Estate</a>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135247 project_image_fid=3629]

Architecture firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">Group GSA</a>&nbsp;are behind the design at The Residences at Wahroonga Estate. There are 128 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, complete with interiors&nbsp;by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/coco-republic-interior-design">Coco Republic</a>. Floor-to-ceiling glass maximises views of the bushland ridgeline, while on-site amenity includes a residents’ lounge, pet-friendly Green Spine, BBQ pavilion and direct access to Coups Creek bushland and walking tracks.

Gold Star iCIRT-rated builder&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/dasco-australia">DASCO</a>&nbsp;was&nbsp;appointed earlier this year to deliver The Residences at Wahroonga Estate. They are expected to complete the building in late 2027, with residents to move in shortly after.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135247]

Downsizer demand continues to shape The Residences at Wahroonga Estate

With Brisbane’s housing market soaring and home ownership becoming increasingly out of reach for many buyers, townhouses have emerged as the new urban dream, offering private, low-maintenance retreats complete with pools, parklands, and lifestyle amenities.

As Brisbane faces a growing shortage of quality new residential offerings, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/honeycombes-property-group">Honeycombes Property Group</a> has released to the market Songbird Terraces, a boutique development of just 34 terrace homes in the heart of the leafy residential enclave of Oxley.

Offering a more affordable option to the white picket fence house, buyers can purchase a brand new architecturally designed three bedroom terrace home overlooking park and bushland with a communal heated pool, BBQ terrace, private parklands and an on-site café, while being just minutes from <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/oxley-qld-4075">Oxley</a>’s village centre, train station, and a range of schools and amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5241]

Each of the spacious three bedroom plus multi purpose room or four bedroom townhomes feature premium finishes, landscaped courtyards, designer kitchens, two-car accommodation, and optional upgrades for tailored living.

Honeycombes Property Group Managing Director Peter Honeycombe said with completion anticipated in early 2027, this was an incredibly rare chance to buy a fixed-price, brand-new, off the plan home in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held and liveable suburbs, without the stress of auctions and chaotic open homes.

“With prices starting from $1.195 million, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/songbird-terraces-oxley-10-honeyeater-circuit-oxley-qld-4075">Songbird Terraces</a> are designed for owner occupiers seeking space, style and lifestyle, without the maintenance,” Honeycombe said.

“Surrounded by natural bushland and close to manicured parks, walking trails, boutique shops, cafes, cinemas and golf courses, Oxley continues to stand out as one of Brisbane’s most liveable suburbs.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=355541]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/colliers">Colliers</a> Residential Director Andrew Scriven said with a limited number of homes available, Songbird Terraces was attracting strong interest from families, upsizers, first home buyers and downsizers looking for quality, location and long-term value.&nbsp;

“Demand is high, supply is low, and the market is crying out for high-quality homes in established well connected areas like Oxley,” Scriven said.

“What was once seen as a compromise between a house and an apartment a townhouse has now become a lifestyle choice, more and more homebuyers are shifting their focus from traditional detached houses to modern, low-maintenance townhouses that offer greater value and convenience.

“As the city’s population grows and urban sprawl becomes less sustainable, Brisbane’s townhouse market is set to expand even further.&nbsp;

“There’s definitely a panic from buyers who’ve been pushed out of the house market but still want to stay in well-connected suburbs with great schools and amenities, they are worried they will miss out as property prices continually rise.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5238]

After eight years of calling Australia home, Agnes Skoraczewska and Matt Biskupski decided it was finally time to take the next step and purchase a home of their own. With property prices continuing to climb, the couple didn’t want to wait any longer and secured a three-bedroom plus multi purpose room townhouse at Songbird Terraces, locking in a fixed price ahead of their move in 2027.

“The truth is, we didn’t want to wait any longer,” Biskupski said. “Seeing what was happening in the market, we realised now was the right time to buy. It gives us peace of mind knowing we no longer have to worry about renting.”

When they discovered Songbird Terraces, the decision came easily.

“The area is lovely and quiet, yet still so close to the city, it’s the perfect balance for work and life,” Skoraczewska said. “It’s a place where we can recharge our batteries while staying connected to everything we need.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149443 project_image_fid=5237]

For Agnes and Matt, buying off the plan offered the ideal solution, the confidence of securing their dream home at today’s prices, and the excitement of planning for the future in a community that perfectly fits their lifestyle.

As the final residential precinct within the Songbird Oxley master plan, Songbird Terraces will continue to breathe new life into the area and help create a suburb destination rich in lifestyle amenity.

Colliers Residential Director Lily O'Connell said Songbird is positioned to take full advantage of elevated north and east-facing parkland views, the homes feature low-maintenance design and high energy efficiency to reduce ongoing costs while enhancing everyday comfort.

“And with an array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles this is an offering for all,” O'Connell said.

“This is the final release in a masterplanned community that’s become one of Oxley’s most desirable addresses, offering a last chance to enter this community where opportunities are few and far between.”

The homes will be delivered by Clearcon Builders, specialists in premium townhome construction. They will commence construction before Christmas, and is aiming to complete the development in early 2027.

<h2>Songbird Terraces Snapshot</h2>

<ul>
	<li>34 architecturally designed 3 bedroom + multi-purpose room terrace homes.</li>
	<li>An array of layouts, catering to a diverse range of lifestyles.</li>
	<li>Perfectly positioned to take advantage of north and east views over park and bushland.</li>
	<li>A multi-purpose room, which can serve as a second living area, teen retreat, study or fourth bedroom.</li>
	<li>Designer kitchens featuring high quality engineered stone benchtops and European appliances.</li>
	<li>Spacious outdoor living areas and landscaped courtyards perfect for alfresco dining.</li>
	<li>Generous internal and external spaces, designed to take advantage of views overlooking park and bushland.</li>
	<li>Low maintenance, energy efficient &amp; two car accommodation.</li>
	<li>Access to a heated resort-style pool, outdoor entertaining terrace and beautifully landscaped gardens and park.</li>
</ul>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149443]

Songbird Terraces offer 34 architect-designed townhomes in private enclave, surrounded by bushland, parks and resort style amenity

Mark Woodland

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