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Thailand's famed Khao Phing Kan island is a key design driver behind design practice Hayball's latest residential tower in the public eye.

1-13 Cobden Street in South Melbourne maintains active frontages to all aspects, allowing Hayball to create a 360 degree apartment project for the site which was sold to Holder East during 2016. Handled by Lemon Baxter at the time, the sale included the potential for 238 apartments under a prospective development scheme.

Now at planning, Holder East are seeking a 19 storey tower containing 249 dwellings.

The Cobden Street site is the Collins Street-based developers second major tower in waiting in Melbourne, following on from Southbank's <a href="/new-apartments/aurum-on-clarendon-56-62-clarendon-street-southbank">56-62 Clarendon Street</a>. In addition to a number of smaller suburban residential developments, Holder East also controls 509-525 King Street which is also likely to accommodate a substantial development.

<h2>1-13 Cobden Street, South Melbourne application summary</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image117_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Design evolution. Planning image: Hayball"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="322" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image117_1.jpg?itok=vGbkJiEN" title="Design evolution. Planning image: Hayball" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Design evolution. Planning image: Hayball</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>1,886sqm site with four frontages</li>
	<li>Proposed 19 level tower @ 60m in height</li>
	<li>Average podium height of 41m</li>
	<li>249 apartments: 89 x 1 bed, 142 x 2 bed and 18 x 3 bed</li>
	<li>1,473 sqm of retail floor space</li>
	<li>979sqm of communal open space atop the roof</li>
	<li>234 car parking spaces &amp; 83 bicycle spaces</li>
</ul>
<h2>Design Ethos</h2>

Along with Khao Phing Kan, Hayball have also drawn inspiration from eroded natural terraces, offering Singapore's well received <a href="http://www.ecobuildingpulse.com/projects/2015-urban-habitat-award-winner-parkroyal-on-pickering_s">PARKROYAL on Pickering</a> as a prime design driver.

<blockquote>
Sitting on what is an island site, with street frontages to all boundaries, the subject site presents a rare opportunity to truly design a building 'in the round.'

The proposed built form is first sculptured in plan, with a pinching in of the mid sections, whilst the corners are pulled out to hold each of the four street corners. These two moves at the same time serve to ensure that apartment modules are of appropriate depth, whilst maximising opportunity for apartment frontage and capitalising on opportunities for sunlight, daylight and views.

Drawing inspiration from natural eroded landscape forms, the green glass facade is then sculpted in elevation to reveal opportunities for balconies, and break down the mass of the building.
<cite>Hayball: Urban Context Report</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image118.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1-13 Cobden Street in full. Planning image: Hayball"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="641" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image118.jpg?itok=_5OhcZoa" title="1-13 Cobden Street in full. Planning image: Hayball" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>1-13 Cobden Street in full. Planning image: Hayball</figcaption></figure><h2>South Melbourne shapes up</h2>

1-13 Cobden Street is not the only recent tower to lob into the South Melbourne precinct surrounding Park Street. Reworked plans have been revealed for another tower at 9-13 Park Street, with the expectation that its developer can proceed with a 20 storey tower containing 45 apartments.

Both the above projects join an already very healthy list of projects looking to call South Melbourne home. Highlighted by Apartments.com.au earlier in the year, <a href="/news/south-melbourne-a-magnet-for-new-residential-tower-applications">a multitude of towers are in the pipeline</a> although the release of projects in this pocket of South Melbourne has been altogether controlled.

Of these, developer GURNER's Albert Place is poised to begin sales, with the project's premier residence priced at a cool $21 million.

<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/image120.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="9-13 Park Street is a new prospect. Planning image: Cornetta Partners Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="361" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image120.jpg?itok=nEqRn8Zq" title="9-13 Park Street is a new prospect. Planning image: Cornetta Partners Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>9-13 Park Street is a new prospect. Planning image: Cornetta Partners Architects</figcaption></figure><h2>1-13 Cobden Street, South Melbourne development team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Holder East</li>
	<li>Architect: Hayball</li>
	<li>Land Surveyor: Bosco Jonson</li>
	<li>ESD: Lucid Consulting Australia</li>
	<li>Landscape: LBA Design</li>
	<li>Traffic: Traffix Group</li>
	<li>Waste: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>Project Manager: Pomeroy Pacific</li>
</ul>
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silvermb

Hayball's 'island' tower emerges above a wave of South Melbourne development

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Cheltenham is steadily ascending the ranks in terms of apartment numbers in development, with the suburb's latest sizeable project now on public display.

1234-1236 Nepean Highway is located immediately next to City of Kingston Council's municipal office and looks to eclipse the commercial building for size. Developer/builder AUSCO Investment Group is looking to construct an 11 storey mixed-use building containing 126 apartments and 3 office spaces, one of which crowns the prospective building.

The Cheltenham project also adds to AUSCO's strengthening portfolio of apartment projects across Melbourne's South Eastern suburbs. 

Bentleigh, Oakleigh South, Malvern East and a Murrumbeena duo join Cheltenham as suburbs in which AUSCO have active apartment projects.

<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/image100_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Cheltenham's latest major apartment development. Planning image: Bruce Henderson Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image100_1.jpg?itok=rtEhXGpZ" title="Cheltenham's latest major apartment development. Planning image: Bruce Henderson Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Cheltenham's latest major apartment development. Planning image: Bruce Henderson Architects</figcaption></figure>The Bruce Henderson Architects-designed 1234-1236 Nepean Highway is the latest large apartment development in the offing for Cheltenham.

Spanning a 1,920 square metre site and with a 38 metre frontage to Nepean Highway, two low-rise building are set to make way for the project. The prospective yield is split between 53 one−bedroom apartments, 68 two−bedroom apartments, 5 three−bedroom apartments and a total of 1,016 square metres of office space.

AUSCO Investment Group would look to occupy the tenth level office floor according to planning details.

The arrival of 1234-1236 Nepean Highway further highlights the development transformation occurring within the suburb. Although not a haven for high-rise projects, Cheltenham continues to attract an increasing number of projects which are in the low and mid-rise category.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image102_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="19 Hall Street, The Village and Ilixir at construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="265" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image102_2.jpg?itok=lp3WVQq-" title="19 Hall Street, The Village and Ilixir at construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>19 Hall Street, The Village and Ilixir at construction</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au's Project Database is keeping tabs on 16 separate apartment developments across Cheltenham. 

The near complete <a href="/new-apartments/cheltenham-vic-3192">Ilixir</a>, <a href="/buildings/11-19-hall-street-cheltenham">19 Hall Street</a> and <a href="/buildings/the-village-cheltenham-1228-nepean-highway-cheltenham">The Village Cheltenham</a> which was in hiatus but is now active once more constitute the trio of major apartment projects which are at construction. Of the 16 projects which amount to near on 1,000 apartments, 347 are at construction.

Four further projects are at Registrations and Sales within Cheltenham and are likely to add a further 148 apartments to the suburb's stock.

Whilst the balance of upcoming Cheltenham apartment projects are generally smaller in stature, there still remains scope for some noteworthy development.

Ewert Leaf for instance are working with developer Steller to realise <a href="http://ewertleaf.com.au/projects/13-15-chesterville-road/">13-15 Chesterville Road</a>. According to the architect's website, a mixed-use project will account for the 2,332 square metre site.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image103.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Chester is another Bruce Henderson Architects design. Image: CastranGilbert"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image103.jpg?itok=HhRvPgrQ" title="Chester is another Bruce Henderson Architects design. Image: CastranGilbert" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Chester is another Bruce Henderson Architects design within Cheltenham. Image: CastranGilbert</figcaption></figure>
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AUSCO affirms Cheltenham's emergence as an apartment hot spot

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Two of City of Melbourne's key urban design initiatives are in the starters gates, with Lord Major Robert Doyle yesterday providing further information on the pair.

As of next month, the long-awaited upgrade to the southern end of Elizabeth Street will begin. Previously outlined on Apartments.com.au during its infancy, the project will seek to transform the area into "a more functional, safe and attractive gateway for the thousands of pedestrians who use it every day,"

Having 9,300 per hour cycle through the bottom end of Elizabeth Street during peak times, the $2.2 million upgrade will include removing auto traffic southbound between Flinders Lane and Flinders Street by October this year. In turn pedestrian space will be more than doubled.

Five key components constitute the Elizabeth Street upgrade:

<ul>
<li>Southbound traffic lane removed</li>
	<li>New pedestrian area</li>
	<li>Tram stop stays</li>
	<li>Western footpath upgraded</li>
	<li>Northbound traffic lane stays.</li>
</ul>
The Elizabeth Street upgrade joins projects such as the <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/parks-open-spaces/guide-to-parks/Pages/west-melbourne-parks-expansion-opportunities.aspx">West Melbourne parks expansion project</a> and <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/southbankboulevard">Southbank Boulevard's pending transformation</a> in consuming sections of the existing road network in order to create greener, pedestrian friendly outcomes.

<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/image84_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="419" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image84_8.jpg?itok=-Vup6nYX" title="The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The potential for green roofs in the CBD. Image: CoM</figcaption></figure>Greener outcomes are also what City of Melbourne has in mind with yesterday's announcement that Council will allocate $1.2 million from its new Urban Forest Fund in order to encourage the greening of the city.

Under the plan, "City of Melbourne will partner with philanthropists, property developers, community groups and other Government organisations on greening projects. The initiatives could include planting trees, creating parks, green walls, roofs and facades and storm water projects."

The image above is what City of Melbourne hopes to be the eventual outcome of the scheme, highlighting the 236 hectares of intensive (heavy) green roofs and 328 hectares of extensive (lightweight) green roofs earmarked as capable of being receiving the green treatment.

In order to facilitate the transition to a greener CBD and surrounds, City of Melbourne have what is thought to be <a href="http://commedia.cmail19.com/t/i-i-uuyhjll-l-r/">a world first online tool</a> which maps all the rooftops which have the potential to be turned into solar, cool or green roofs. 
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CoM launches two projects aimed at enhancing the CBD

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As one of the city's last applications judged under previous planning regulations, the chronology of 478-488 Elizabeth Street makes for interesting reading and perhaps points to the convoluted transitional process between old and new planning laws.

At the peak of the Asian-backed development wave sweeping Melbourne during 2015, entity L1-2013 Pty Ltd lodged plans for 478-488 Elizabeth Street. The 1,168 square metre site is wedged between two of Melbourne most recent additions, namely the 226 metre Vision Apartments and Victoria One at 241 metres.

At 68 levels, 478-488 Elizabeth Street would have included 383 apartments, 198 hotel suites and cafe/retail spaces at ground level, set within a 208 metre Elenberg Fraser-designed tower.

During their assessment of the merits of the application, Melbourne City Council planners found numerous shortcomings with the design, citing lack of setbacks as a key sticking point.

<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/image59_1_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An early project perspective provides context. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="799" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image59_1_1.jpg?itok=t0xDxfyZ" title="An early project perspective provides context. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An early project perspective provides context. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>Refused by Planning Minister Richard Wynne during February of this year, 478-488 Elizabeth Street's fate took an unusual turn with the site being listed with CBRE City Sales after the minister's refusal. The site was offered for sale subject to attaining a permit via International Expressions of Interest campaign which closed last week.

This was of course after officially being rejected.

Nonetheless the team behind the proposed mixed-use tower now look set to have their time before VCAT in the hope of gaining the green light for the tower. CBRE City Sales in their recent campaign cited the project at 62 levels; the resultant loss of a number of levels would have likely seen the project's internals numbers reworked.

<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/image81.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The site. Image: CBRE City Sales"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="404" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image81.jpg?itok=L7BzAR4W" title="The site. Image: CBRE City Sales" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The site. Image: CBRE City Sales</figcaption></figure>478-488 Elizabeth Street is one of two projects of considerable height still in the race to call the northern stretch of Elizabeth Street home. According to the State Government's online planning platform, 441-447 Elizabeth Street is also <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://lodgement.planning-permits.delwp.vic.gov.au/public/detail/68">still under assessment</a>, having initially been lodged during 2014.

478-488 Elizabeth Street's struggles through planning comes at a time when a similarly sized approved skyscraper just metres away from Elizabeth Street has been offered for sale. <a href="https://www.cbremelbourne.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/CBRE_111ABeckettStreetMelbourneCBD_6pp_webfinal.pdf">Paradigm</a> at 111 A'Beckett Street is also in the hands of CBRE City Sales, with the eventual buyer attaining the right to develop 632 apartments across 64 levels.

As an interesting side note Lord Major Robert Doyle has been a vocal advocate for a <a href="http://architectureau.com/articles/tower-to-overlook-melbournes-queen-victoria-market/">skyscraper on the Munro site</a> which in also in close proximity to Elizabeth Street.

<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/image82_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A current render for 478-488 Elizabeth Street. Image: CBRE City Sales"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="777" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image82_1.jpg?itok=JwlMIlcr" title="A current render for 478-488 Elizabeth Street. Image: CBRE City Sales" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A current render for 478-488 Elizabeth Street. Image: CBRE City Sales</figcaption></figure>
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A high stakes game unfolds for one of Melbourne's largest proposed developments

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Another of the squadron of tall residential towers dotting the CBD's northern expanses has topped out. Empire Melbourne is a predominantly precast monolith highlighted by vertical gold fins set at different angles.

Head contractor Probuild last week took Empire Melbourne to its high point, topping out the tower with the final level completed. The rapid work of Caelli in erecting the concrete structure coupled with the Probuild Construction Systems program has allowed the 62-storey tower to reach structural completion well ahead of schedule.

Empire Melbourne now stands on the south-east corner of A'Beckett and Elizabeth Streets, directly opposite MY80, which was the first collaboration between Probuild, Malaysian-based developer Mammoth Empire, PDS Group and architecture firm Hayball.

Combined, MY80 and Empire Melbourne have added 968 apartments to the intersection.

<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/img_9562.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Gold the order of the day, as seen from A'Beckett Street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="870" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_9562.jpg?itok=Tg4DHk3n" title="Gold the order of the day, as seen from A'Beckett Street" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Gold the order of the day, as seen from A'Beckett Street</figcaption></figure>Delivered under a design and construct contract, Probuild's accelerated delivery of Empire Melbourne has the project on course to be delivered months ahead of its intended completion.

<blockquote>
The innovation at Empire has accelerated usual fitout timelines achieved with traditional building techniques. By implementing Probuild Construction Systems we’ve been able to make the most of every opportunity and exceed our client’s expectations.

I’m extremely proud of our people working at Empire. At Probuild we hire the industry’s best and they’ve delivered the best for our client, Mammoth Empire.
<cite>Probuild Managing Director Luke Stambolis</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
We’re delighted to have reached this milestone and thank our partners, particularly Probuild, for getting us to this stage 3 months ahead of schedule. Mammoth and PDS Group have partnered successfully in the past, with MY80 (across the road) finishing in 2014 and we look forward to Empire receiving its first residents later this year.

Mammoth and PDS Group wish to thank our partners for their innovation and hard work to date.
<cite>CEO of PDS Group, Andrew Fortey</cite>
</blockquote>

348 apartments with Empire Melbourne along with all common areas are scheduled to be handed over on 31 July 2017. Thereafter settlements will take place, with the balance of apartments nominated for a September 2017 handover; well in advance of the initially nominated completion date of December 2017.

In addition to the 487 apartments in total, Empire Melbourne also includes 2 retail spaces, 8 motorbike and 173 bicycle spaces. Project amenities include a gym, yoga/multi-purpose room, pool, sauna, lounge and dining 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/image79_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Empire Melbourne. Image: Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="570" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image79_6.jpg?itok=xTbNmOTs" title="Empire Melbourne. Image: Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Empire Melbourne. Image: Ryan Seychell</figcaption></figure>Project specifics aside, Empire Melbourne joins a growing cast of towers along Elizabeth Street's eastern flank that present as vertical 'walls' from street level, with only token podiums and/or setbacks.

A product of previous planning laws, the flourish of tall towers in this stretch defined by their sheer vertical form has markedly changed the Elizabeth Street streetscape. Five of six substantial residential towers facing Elizabeth Street have either been or are close to completion.

In discussion with one of Melbourne's leading architects last week, comment was passed on this new stretch of towers along Elizabeth Street; "What will we make of these towers in 20 years time? What sort of legacy will they leave?"
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Empire Melbourne tops out, but is it Melbourne's Empire rose?

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Near on a year after being submitted, Footscray's last major development within the Joseph Road Precinct is all but reality.

Last week it was recommended by internal planners that Maribyrnong Council's City Development Special Committee issue a Notice of Decision to Grant a Permit for the multi-towered development which accounts for the last 'super site' within the 17 hectare renewal area. 2 Neilson Place is the final piece of the puzzle within the vast formerly light industrial land holding which constitutes the Joseph Road Precinct.

Over recent years six separate scheme within the precinct have gained approval, amounting to some 3,300 new apartments. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image77_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="2 Neilson Street. Planning image: Architecton"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="542" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image77_2.jpg?itok=tP_P4IeT" title="2 Neilson Street. Planning image: Architecton" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>2 Neilson Street. Planning image: Architecton</figcaption></figure>Carrying a cost of development of $180 million, 2 Neilson Place is positioned to add another 500 plus apartments to Joseph Road Precinct. Of these, 5% are to be allocated as affordable housing.

Set across 6,323 square metres, 2 Neilson Place also adds 620 square metres of retail floor space, 3,418 square metres of office space and capacity for a childcare centre. A variety of amenities are anchored by podium and tooftop open spaces.

Well beyond the preferred maximum building height of 12 storeys, "consideration has been given to reducing the heights, however any reduction in height would not make any significant difference to the urban environment of Joseph Road." This is in response to earlier approvals in some instances reaching 32 levels.

<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/img_0054.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Riverina's first phase under construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_0054.jpg?itok=ylsRe4Gi" title="Riverina's first phase under construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Riverina's first phase under construction</figcaption></figure>With the planning aspect of Joseph Road Precinct all but complete, the challenge for developers is to now deliver the thousands of approved apartments.

In total 23 separate residential towers are in play within the precinct, and of those only a trio of mid-sized towers which represent stage one of Riverina are at construction. Having ridden the wave of foreign-based interest in Melbourne's apartment market, Riverina had sold well initially, although the rate of sales for current and future releases may not be as rapid.

The sheer number of apartments involved coupled with the restrictive measures placed on foreign investors and the 'cooling' within certain pockets of Melbourne's apartment market may lead to a slower roll-out of construction within Joseph Road Precinct.

4 Neilson Place known as The Tannery has conducted a low-key sales campaign whilst Growland's Victoria Square opposite Riverina has begun its sales campaign in earnest.
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Joseph Road precinct's final application sails toward reality; now for the task of delivery

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The inner city's sustained surge in student housing projects is poised to churn out three additional developments, all of which are currently navigating through planning.

As demand for inner city apartments has waned, student accommodation proponents have seized the opportunity to add further key sites across inner northern suburbs to their respective portfolios. As the frenzied sale (and sale prices) of prospective development sites has cooled, a handful of key institutional players have muscled in on land acquisitions.

This coupled with the expansion/conversion of existing buildings, has seen the student accommodation sector mushroom rapidly; Apartments.com.au's Project Database now includes 16 dedicated student accommodation developments, with more to follow.

<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/image69_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Whitley College's proposed revamp. Planning image: Rothelowman"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="299" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image69_6.jpg?itok=OT0UAZeD" title="Whitley College's proposed revamp. Planning image: Rothelowman" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Whitley College's proposed revamp. Planning image: Rothelowman</figcaption></figure>Most recent to the database is GSA Australia, continuing their expansion agenda with 263-281 Royal Parade.

The Parkville address which currently plays host to Whitley College is in line for a substantial expansion. Designed by Rothelowman, the scheme requests additional levels be added to the existing doughnut-shaped sandstone building, with a new six level wing added to the rear of the site.

The project's estimated cost of development is $32 million and results in 366 student rooms.

This is GSA Australia's fourth Melbourne project in quick succession, with the <a href="/news/the-student-living-drive-churns-out-an-additional-tower-but-provides-no-luck-for-another">wraps coming off their most recent</a> only last week.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image70_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A revamped scheme for Wreckyn Street. Planning image: Nettleton Tribe"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="278" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image70_5.jpg?itok=An7NXW74" title="A revamped scheme for Wreckyn Street. Planning image: Nettleton Tribe" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A revamped scheme for Wreckyn Street. Planning image: Nettleton Tribe</figcaption></figure>Also on the agenda is a reworking of an approved North Melbourne site previously held by Malaysian developer Mammoth Empire.

The approved apartment scheme has been superseded by a Nettleton Tribe design for operator UniLodge. At 9 levels the new 15-27 Wreckyn Street incorporates 420 beds split between individual and multishare options. 85 bicycle spaces and a cafe tenancy are also present, as are numerous common areas.

Having <a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/mammoth-sells-north-melbourne-site-to-unilodge-for-student-accommodation-20161220-gtexg9">sold the site for $17 million</a> late last year, the transaction pocketed Mammoth Empire $5 million for the two years that it was in control of 2,271sqm site.

From UniLodge's perspective, 15-27 Wreckyn Street joins <a href="/news/inter-war-and-student-to-the-core-another-whopping-student-accommodation-project-unveiled">123-135 Bouverie Street</a> as the operators pending inner city projects.

<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/image44_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Bedford Place's now defunct apartment project. Image: Vinci Carbone"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="317" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image44_1.jpg?itok=Uor-As_8" title="Bedford Place's now defunct apartment project. Image: Vinci Carbone" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Bedford Place's now defunct apartment project. Image: Vinci Carbone</figcaption></figure>Finally, Brisbane-based Blue Sky Funds is behind 3-5 Bedford Place, situated adjacent to Haymarket Roundabout. Controlling the adjoining property at 1 Flemington Road which has approval for a Hayball-designed student tower, Blue Sky have sought the conversion of the Bedford Place permit from 53 apartments to student accommodation predominantly consisting of 3 or 5 bedroom clusters.

In line with its new purpose, the Bedford Place property which is now under the guidance of design practice Hayball, has lost its basement level and has been significant reworked internally. Externally the reworked design remains within the bounds of the approved envelope.

It's proposed that both buildings are to be constructed simultaneously, and will most likely fall under the recently created Atira Student Living banner.
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Three new projects step forward to further fill the student accommodation void

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Perri Projects has been given approval by the City of Melbourne to create a new West Melbourne Waterfront precinct that will subsume a swathe of industrial land.

<a href="/news/industrial-west-melbourne-the-latest-urban-renewal-contender">First covered by Urban.com.au</a> at the turn of 2016, the $500 million rejuvenation which fell under Planning Scheme Amendment C221, was given the nod during a recent council meeting. The roughly 28,000sqm site is diagonally opposite Footscray's Joseph Road Precinct urban renewal area, and is loosely addressed 150-250 Kensington Road.

According to a statement released by Perri Projects, an independent planning panel was appointed by the Minister for Planning, whose job was to consider submissions and make recommendations for the project. With City of Melbourne approval in hand, the largest hurdle to the project has been surpassed.

The rezoning is now before the Minister for Planning awaiting final sign off.

<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/image41_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A working image for the redevelopment features a new waterfront"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="322" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image41_4.jpg?itok=3WPnVqmE" title="A working image for the redevelopment features a new waterfront" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A working image for the redevelopment features a new waterfront</figcaption></figure>Having been at planning for more than four years, the amendment includes a Development Plan Overlay that will guide the long-term development of the site. A high-quality built environment and additional public space are key aspects of the approval, which would see 2,000sqm of waterfront land made accessible to the public.

Designers NH Architecture and Woods Bagot have maintained a hand in the redevelopment plans to date, as have advisory KPMG and Oculus as landscape architects. 

Headline figures stemming from Planning Scheme Amendment C221 will see 10,000sqm of the site dedicated to a new public realm, including a waterfront-facing park. 800 metres of new bike lanes and upgrades to footpaths and lighting will also improve access to South Kensington Station. 

<blockquote>
We’re incredibly pleased with the outcome of the recent Council meeting. We are proud of this project and the benefits it will deliver for future residents and the wider Kensington and West Melbourne community.

This project has been a decade in the making, working closely with Council and key stakeholders every step of the way to ensure key community benefits could be delivered as part of the revitalisation. The process has been very collaborative and we are excited to start bringing this vision to life.

We now look forward to creating a detailed development plan that will transform this underutilised pocket of land into a world-class waterfront precinct and exemplar mixed-use development, consistent with Plan Melbourne and Council’s Municipal Strategic Statement.
<cite>Perri Projects’ Managing Director, David Scalzo</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image42_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="West Melbourne Waterfront precinct in a grander context"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="322" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image42_3.jpg?itok=2fMXonKO" title="West Melbourne Waterfront precinct in a grander context" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>West Melbourne Waterfront precinct in a grander context</figcaption></figure>The approval of the West Melbourne Waterfront precinct will likely act as a catalyst for further change along the stretch of the Maribyrnong River which fronts West Melbourne and Kensington. The immediate holds a strategic position with both the Hobsons Road and Dynon urban renewal precincts at its doorstep.

To date the only development of note in the area is the River Walk Kensington apartment complex at 71-89 Hobsons Road, which is currently under construction.

With a string of light industrial buildings between West Melbourne Waterfront precinct and River Walk, the prospects of the area becoming a mixed-use enclave in the medium term are high.

<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/img_8802.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Riverwalk Kensington is under construction."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_8802.jpg?itok=YYcWJ0F6" title="Riverwalk Kensington is under construction." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Riverwalk Kensington is under construction.</figcaption></figure>
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A vanguard West Melbourne regeneration project receives CoM backing

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It's not every day an intended project can lay claim to being the largest mixed-use development outside of Melbourne's CBD.

Clayton will soon enough host <a href="/buildings/m-city-2107-dandenong-road-clayton">M-City</a>, a massive project on a 35,000sqm site located at 2107-2125 Dandenong Road. Controlled by local developer Nick Saraceno for the best part of 25 years, the long-dormant site's new launch as M-City comes after previously being referred to as the Nova Centre.

Having been in the works for a decade, the state planning minister of the day became the approving authority for the project during 2009, with the green light granted thereafter.

Schiavello have since been enlisted as joint developer alongside Saraceno Group for M-City, which at the time of approval carried a price tag of $600 million.

<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/image36mc.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of M-City's first stage. Image: CBRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="193" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image36mc.jpg?itok=1VTiv6PW" title="Artist's impression of M-City's first stage. Image: CBRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of M-City's first stage. Image: CBRE</figcaption></figure>Stage One of M-City sees 170 one, two and three bedroom apartments on offer, with apartment internals ranging between 46sqm and 102sqm. CBRE have been installed as the master sales agent.

Beyond the initial apartment release, three additional residential buildings are in the works, as is a 225-suite international hotel, 189 serviced apartments and a commercial office building. During planning the commercial aspect consisted of a seven-level office building containing approximately 13,000sqm of leasable space, although the final figure under the M-City banner is unclear.

Kmart and Woolworths have been earmarked as anchors for the sizeable retail portion of the mixed-use project, with a cinema complex also in the works.

Long serving project architects Buchan Group continue to oversee the project, tweaking the approved plans to create M-City. Amenities include the ubiquitous pool and gym, a landscaped rooftop garden, tennis facilities, open air games area and  BBQ space. M-City will also host a child care centre.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image39_7.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of an M-City apartment interior. Image: CBRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="257" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image39_7.jpg?itok=-fVSMJTE" title="Artist's impression of an M-City apartment interior. Image: CBRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of an M-City apartment interior. Image: CBRE</figcaption></figure>Such a scale of M-City, it has been listed as a stand-alone future activity centre within the Monash National Employment and Innovation Cluster.

In the middle of the Victorian Planning Authority's freshly released <a href="https://vpa-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Monash-NEIC-framework-plan_March2017_WEB.pdf">Draft Framework Plan</a> for the Monash Cluster, M-City will be surrounded by the largest concentration of jobs outside of the Melbourne's CBD. An ongoing target for a number of large commercial and institutional developments, Monash Cluster includes Monash University's ongoing transformation and the Frasers-backed 60,000sqm commercial development at <a href="/news/a-commercial-mini-city-beckons-as-melbournes-southeast-flourishes">254-294 Wellington Road, Mulgrave</a>.

Construction on M-City's first phase is slated to begin later this year, with an approximate construction timeframe of 18 months expected.
</body></html>

Melbourne's largest mixed-use development outside the CBD lands in Clayton

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Perhaps in line with the current market sentiment, the release of apartment projects within Fishermans Bend for public purchase has been sluggish at best.

The recent green light for 134-142 Ferrars Street brings to 14 the number of residential projects within the Apartments.com.au Project Database which hold approval within the Urban Renewal Area, but have yet to go to sales. Put another way, these 14 projects equate to approximately 4,800 apartments that are being held back by developers.

Looking to buck the trend is the developer behind SOUTH, Fishermans Bend's latest release.

Australia Ruiyi has cemented its local intentions with SOUTH, a $48 million creation of Rothelowman. At 15 Thistlethwaite Street, SOUTH includes 69 apartments across an eight level building capped by a 'Rooftop Club'.

<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/image12_7.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="SOUTH includes a rooftop dining space. Image: Australia Ruiyi"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image12_7.jpg?itok=6KqT1CRS" title="SOUTH includes a rooftop dining space. Image: Australia Ruiyi" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>SOUTH includes a rooftop dining space. Image: Australia Ruiyi</figcaption></figure>Backed by Chinese developer Ruiyi, SOUTH is Australia Ruiyi's vanguard project. It along with future developments in North Melbourne, Coburg and Diamond Creek sees the new developer's local portfolio valued at $400 million.

On SOUTH and Melbourne's underlying strength, General Manager of Australia Ruiyi Rachel Wang provided the following statement:

<blockquote>
SOUTH is located in one of Melbourne’s most affluent areas, with a high concentration of renters and a great local atmosphere. 

Located just 3km from the CBD with a Walkscore of 92, and a local population set to increase by 91.9% over the next 20 years, we see South Melbourne as a key strategic suburb to either live or invest in. It’s no secret that Melbourne has a strong property market; it is consistently ranked as the world’s most liveable city, has strong population growth, good schools and a thriving employment sector.
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image13_15.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="PM Port Melbourne and Vivid are also at sales"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="435" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image13_15.jpg?itok=FGfJbsCl" title="PM Port Melbourne and Vivid are also at sales" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>PM Port Melbourne and Vivid are also at sales</figcaption></figure>The developer's confidence in the project is high, with SOUTH currently at construction tender prior to the project officially being launched later this month.

SOUTH's pending launch means it along with <a href="/buildings/pm-port-melbourne-320-plummer-street-port-melbourne">PM Port Melbourne</a> and <a href="/new-apartments/171-183-ferrars-street-south-melbourne">Vivid</a> are the three major developments currently at sales within Fishermans Bend. Whilst pending sales speculation revolves around a handful of projects such as <a href="/new-apartments/15-85-gladstone-street-south-melbourne">15-87 Gladstone Street</a> and <a href="/buildings/lilix-51-59-thistlethwaite-street-south-melbourne">51-59 Thistlethwaite Street</a>, only two residential projects have to date advanced to construction within the massive Urban Renewal Area.

As the backlog of approved projects mounts, the next wave of planning applications within Fishermans Bend has come through during the initial months of 2017.

Applications have been lodged for 112 Salmon Street, 253-273 Normanby Road and 365-391 Plummer Street. In excess of 1,000 apartments are planned for the trio of sites which are controlled by Gunnersen, R Corporation and Third Street respectively.
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SOUTH looks to buck a sluggish Fishermans Bend trend

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Baljak

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