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GUEST OBSERVER
As expected, the August housing finance approvals data was the proverbial ‘dog’s breakfast’.
Changes associated with APRA's 'macroprudential' measures to contain investor housing activity created significant disruptions in the month.
These were expected to generate a large indirect boost to owner-occupier approvals with industry data pointing to a 7-8% boost in the month.
As it happened, the number of loans posted a more subdued 2.9% gain although the number of loans ex refi (+5.2%), the value of owner occupier loans (+6.1%) and the combined value of owner occupier and investor loans (+4.1%) all posted relatively strong monthly gains.
Policy-related disruptions combined with revisions due to changes in estimates of first home buyers and some banks reclassifying loans from investor to owner occupier.
The net effect lifted the Jul base for the number of owner occupier loans ex refi by 2.5% - as such the net gain vs previously published estimates was 7.7%, in line with Westpac’s 7.5% forecast.
The value of loans to investors showed a 0.4% dip in the month.
The total value of loans was up 3.5%mth and 4.1%mth ex refi with both measures up close to 20%yr.
This is the most reliable gauge of market momentum while policy-related disruptions are affecting the mix and indicates that, as at August, demand overall was still carrying solid momentum, above a 20% annual pace on a 6mth basis.
By state, the strongest gains for the were for NSW and Vic. The state detail on the value of investor loans is not released until next week, so total loan measures are not available
Details  Owner–occupiers (no.)   2.9%mth, 8.8%yr   – ex-financing (no.)     5.2%mth, 9.3%yr                     
Construction of dwellings (no.)    2.4%mth, -7.1%yr  Purchase of newly built dwellings (no.)   2.6%mth, 2%yr 
Value of loans:             
Owner-occupiers ($bn)   6.1%mth, 26.5%yr    Investors ($bn)              –0.4%mth, 12%yr          Total ($bn)                    3.5%mth, 20.3%yr         Total ex refi ($bn)          4.1%mth, 19%yr    
Matthew Hassan is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Matthew_Hassan-HHWHptmrw4

Australian housing finance August 2015: Westpac's Matthew Hassan

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GUEST OBSERVER
Approvals rose 4% in July, coming in a touch above Westpac and the consensus forecast of a 3% rise.
A partial rebound was widely recovered after last months’ report showed a sharp fall in high-rise approvals driving an 8.2% drop overall.
That previous fall has been pared back to just –5.2% meaning approvals are only down 1.2% over the two months combined and 4.7% below their March peak. 
Volatility continues to affect much of the survey detail making trends difficult to pinpoint. 
The dwelling type breakdown shows the dominance of ‘high rise’ approvals – private ‘unit’ approvals rose 6.1%, coming off a 14% drop in Jun (previously estimated as –20%) with the detail suggesting all of the change reflecting high rise approvals (low-mid rise approvals look to be down a touch in the month). Private sector house approvals were down 3%mth but were coming off a 3.7% rise in June, quite a strong increase for this more stable segment. 
The state breakdown shows the rebound concentrated in NSW which saw a big 27% jump in the month. Vic approvals rose 8.3% with other states recording declines – notably, approvals in WA are now down 30%yr.
The picture ex high rise suggests approvals suggests a flattening uptrend in NSW and Qld and downtrends in Vic and WA. 
The headline and revision was more positive than expected but much of this appears to relate to the size of volatility in the high rise segment with ex-high rise approvals showing conditions are more mixed.
Stepping back from the month to month variations, approvals have clearly passed their peak but the degree to which conditions are now softening remains unclear.   Details  Private houses  –3%mth,    –2.2%yr    Private 'units'    6.1%mth,    25.2%yr                               
NSW     27.1%mth,      67.7%yr  Vic       8.3%mth,        15.6%yr         Qld       –17.2%mth,      2.2%yr       WA       –1.1%mth,    –29.9%yr      SA        –8.1%mth,    –11.6%yr                            
Alteration &amp; additions^   –1.3%mth,    12%yr    Non-residential^             12.2%mth,    14.6%yr       ^ value               
 
Strategy
For the AUD The Aussie rose from lows of 0.7102 in the Australia morning. It touched 0.7133, popping up around 5 pips, with the upside surprise in building approvals. However net exports, which was released at the same time, showed a larger detraction from GDP than expected and the current account deficit was larger than forecast. This brought AUD/USD to trade back down towards 0.7105.
Matthew Hassan is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Dwelling approvals up 4% in July: Westpac's Matthew Hassan

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GUEST OBSERVER
Retail sales posted a 0.7% gain in the June month and a 0.7% qtr gain for Q2 in real inflation adjusted terms.
The monthly rise was in line with Westpac’s forecast but above the consensus view of a 0.4% gain.
The Q2 rise was above both our view and the consensus view of +0.4%qtr.
The June monthly result was driven by a solid 2.2% rise in household goods retail. Some of this reflects housing-related spending directly linked to new construction (furniture and fittings). However we suspect there was also a lift at the margin due to Budget measures aimed at boosting small business investment. For businesses looking to take advantage of these, there would have been a significant incentive to spend ahead of the end of financial year. Other categories were more mixed in the month with cafes &amp; restaurants posting a 1.2% gain and ‘other’ retail up 2% mth but clothing down another 1.4% mth after a poor May and department stores and food retail about flat in the month.
With the June month in line with Westpac’s forecast, the main surprise for us from the Q2 result was around retail prices. The CPI detail had been pointing to a 0.3% qtr gain for retail prices, slightly softer than Q1’s 0.5%. Instead retail prices came in dead flat with modest gains for household goods and cafes &amp; restaurants offset by falling clothing, department stores and ‘other retail’ prices and food up only slightly.
That weaker than expected price result meant more of the Q2 nominal sales lift was from volumes. The 0.8% qtr gain in real retail sales follows a 0.6% qtr rise in Q1 (revised down slightly from 0.7% qtr) and lifts annual growth to 3.6% yr.
In contrast to the June month, the Q2 real sales gains were more broadly based across categories with only department stores recording decline (–0.5% qtr).
The state breakdowns show a widening divergence between the mining states (+1.5% yr for volumes on a combined basis) and the ‘non-mining’ states (+3.5% yr).
Overall, the June report was stronger than expected and hints at some upside risk around the Q2 consumption figures. We currently expect a 0.5% qtr gain similar to that in Q1.
It should be noted that the retail survey has been a problematic guide to total consumer spending over the last year. Much of this relates to shifts in tourism related spending which mean retail spending is outpacing the measures that feed into total consumption.  Strategy  For the AUD
AUD/USD was trading just under 0.7270 going into the data releases. June trade balance came in near expectations. An upside surprise to the Jun retail sales print (0.7% v 0.4% forecast) and an upward revision of May numbers (0.3% to 0.4%) saw the Aussie jump to around 0.7290 initially. Given the solid data, this was a surprisingly small move, perhaps indicative of the pre-RBA mood of markets. AUD then pushed towards 0.7300 over the next half hour.
MATTHEW HASSAN is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Housing-related spend drives July retail sales figures: Matthew Hassan

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GUEST OBSERVER
Australian housing finance approvals to owner occupiers fell sharply in May with the 6.1% fall coming below expectations of a 3% decline.
Weak industry data had indicated some downside risks to the month – these clearly materialised. 
The detail was also weak. New lending, ex refinance, recorded an even sharper 8.2% drop.
Construction-related approvals recorded a sharp fall as well, down 5.7%mth on a combined basis (i.e. approvals for construction and for the purchase of newly built dwellings). 
Owner occupier finance approvals declined across all states with falls (ex refi) ranging from –3.8%mth in Qld to –8.6%mth in WA.
The number of new finance approvals is down on year-ago levels in every state. 
Notably, the value of housing finance approvals to investors also declined in May, falling 3.2%mth. Although that still leaves lending in the segment up 19.4%yr, the tightening in lending criteria and APRA’s target of 10% growth in credit to the segment (i.e. total loans outstanding) means there will be further falls to come near term. 
The sharp fall in finance approvals in May reflects both the clear softening in buyer sentiment across owner-occupier segments since mid-2014 and the ‘macro-prudential’ measures aimed at containing investor lending.
Note however that the reading would have been unaffected by the RBA’s May rate cut which more timely auction market and price data suggests has driven some renewed momentum in housing markets through June-July. Details  Owner–occupiers (no.)    –6.1%mth, –1.9%yr   – ex-financing (no.)        –8.2%mth, –10%yr
Construction of dwellings (no.)  –8.3%mth, –9.7%yr    Purchase of new dwellings (no.)    0.3%mth, 3.4%yr                    
Value of loans:   Owner-occupiers ($bn)      –5.3%mth, 8.1%yr Investors ($bn)                –3.2%mth, 19.4%yr   Total ($bn)                     –4.4%mth, 12.6%yr   
<h2>Strategy</h2>
For the AUD 
AUD was trading just above 0.7480 as the housing finance was released. The currency fell around 5 pips as the headline fell by 6.1%m/m v the 3.0% consensus. The data however was overshadowed by the opening of the Chinese stock exchanges. Markets are also focusing on continued risk around Greece and Fed Chair Yellen speaking. 
MATTHEW HASSAN is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Australian housing finance May 2015: Matthew Hassan

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The headline ‘number of owner occupier finance approvals’ rose 1.6%, a touch above the consensus forecast of a 1% gain but not overly strong for this often volatile monthly series.
The headline is being boosted by strong refinance activity – this segment rose 4% in March following a 3.2% gain in Feb and is up 21%yr, accounting for a record 37.6% of all owner occupier finance approvals.
Ex refinance, approvals are up just 0.3%mth and down 3%yr. With refinance effectively ‘churn’, the net figure is more meaningful for gauging credit growth overall and suggests this is still very muted for the owner-occupier segment.
The other detail shows more softness in construction-related owner-occupier approvals, now down over 4%yr (on a combined basis including finance for newly built dwellings).
Construction related approvals remain a relatively high proportion of all approvals though. Note also that recent gains in dwelling approvals have been driven by high rise projects that are less closely linked to these finance indicators.
The value of loans to investors jumped 6.4%mth, more than reversing last month’s 3.3% drop that had hinted at some cooling in this segment. That now looks to be misleading with the value of approvals up 20.9%yr.
That in turn suggests little or no impact to date from macroprudential pressures aimed at containing lending growth to this segment with these growth rates in new loans unlikely to be consistent with APRA’s 10% guideline for growth in the total stock of investor loans, noting that system-wide investor credit growth is already tracking at 10.4%yr.
The state breakdown of owner-occupier approvals showed broad gains across all the major states suggesting lower interest rates were a common positive factor in the month.
MATTHEW HASSAN is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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High-rise projects driving 2015 dwelling approvals: Matthew Hassan

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

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Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

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Matthew Hassan

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