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Melbourne now has a second vertical school campus under construction. McCorkell Constructions is in charge of the build that will deliver a new integrated educational and communal facility on the corner of Highett and Gleadell Street, <a href="/new-apartments/richmond-vic-3121">Richmond</a>.

Designed by <a href="/architects/hayball">Hayball</a>, Richmond High School as it has been labelled will be built for 650 students, and has an overall value of $43 million. With completion slated for the beginning of the 2018 academic year, the build will encompass two separate sites; 16 Gleadell Street will be a multi-purpose facility whilst 280 Highett Street will encapsulate the academic building.

To mark this week's construction commencement, Hayball Director David Tweedie provided the following commentary on the design ethos and traits that define the project.

<h2>On the design brief</h2>

Set in a diverse neighbourhood with a large cohort of students, our brief for Richmond High School touched on a number of areas in terms of the client’s vision and values. Community, diversity, wellbeing, sustainability, safety, technology and ensuring learners are at the centre of everything – these were central to the brief and areas we really prioritised with our design of the vertical school.

<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_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of the facility's atrium space"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="300" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image13_13.jpg?itok=kRlKpm3K" title="Artist's impression of the facility's atrium space" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of the facility's atrium space</figcaption></figure>‘Learning communities’ and relevant design

A key approach has been to design for ‘learning communities’ - flexible, adaptable spaces accommodating up to 108 children which incorporate specific functionalities. We wanted the possibility for these learning communities to be combined allowing a number of school structures – two sub schools, middle / senior school, or year level groupings. 

Simply put, we developed two floors of these learning communities for general learning that sit on different levels to the spaces for specialist subjects such as science, technology and arts. This way, you’ve got equitable access to general learning areas and specialist learning areas.

A challenge when creating a school that sits across a number of levels is always, how do we ensure it feels welcoming, and what defines it as a ‘school’?  Our strategy was firstly to focus on locating all the functions that invite school community participation on the ground floor – the library, the performing arts spaces, and spaces for sharing food, and secondly to make visible from the outside the activities of the school – including science spaces and outdoor learning.

These are balanced with a series of protective enclosures to bring light and air into the interior.

We were concerned that the building felt like one place, a holistically integrated place for learning – spaces needed to be purposeful and well defined, but interconnected. The atrium building form that we’ve developed has allowed this while providing light and air to the interior 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/image14_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Overview of the wider precinct"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="389" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image14_8.jpg?itok=5eQALFUH" title="Overview of the wider precinct" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Overview of the wider precinct</figcaption></figure><h2>Richmond the suburb and Hayball's specific design resoponse</h2>

As one of the oldest industrial suburbs in Melbourne which has gone through dynamic generation shifts, while retaining a strong commitment to social housing, Richmond is an area full of rich and diverse cultures and students come from a range of socio economic backgrounds.

Our design is fully supportive of this diverse community - the way people are welcomed in the ground floor is key, but the flexible design of the outdoor learning environments is also a key part of the story.

We’ve created outdoor cooking facilities and food spaces that break out to the ground landscape and the school community has responded well to this – it encourages parents to come together on site. The way the landscape is configured allows space for exhibitions or functions to take place outside too, and there’s space for food trucks, pop-up exhibitions and events.

Taking inspiration from the nearby farmer’s market, we’ve created an edible productive garden which will have many education benefits for the students. The fresh food is intended to be used by students or families, while from a science perspective, students can learn about agriculture and sustainability. It’s symbolic of the idea of coming together around food, which has the potential to unite communities.

<h2>Community facilities a key design plank</h2>

There are facilities for the broader community to use, most notably the four competition grade netball courts and the multipurpose space on Gleadell Street – these are of high value for the community out of hours in terms of recreation, community meetings and the like, supporting the existing assets of the City of Yarra in this location.

<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_5233.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="South Melbourne Primary School going up"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="448" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_5233.jpg?itok=MSlGfQNh" title="South Melbourne Primary School going up" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>South Melbourne Primary School going up</figcaption></figure>Richmond High School is second to South Melbourne Primary School in terms of construction, with the latter now well under steam at the hand of ADCO Constructions.

Also designed by Hayball, South Melbourne Primary School <a href="/news/hayballs-south-melbourne-vertical-school-wins-on-an-international-scale">shot to prominence</a> from a design perspective last year, winning the Education – Future Projects category during the World Architecture Festival in Berlin. It like Richmond High School is set for completion in time for the beginning of the 2018 academic year.
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silvermb

Hayball provides design commentary on Melbourne's latest vertical school

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After years of inactivity and stalled projects, Pentridge's rebirth is gathering momentum, headlined by a proposed all-silver tower put forward by Shayher Group and Cox Architecture. 

After Shayher Group's announcement last year that <a href="/news/adina-hotel-adds-to-shayher-groups-pentridge-vision">TFE Hotels was secured as operator of an onsite Adina Apartment Hotel complex</a>, the intended redevelopment has since been lodged with planning authorities, with the expected outcome a new 18 storey tower.

Partly set within the walls of the former B Division Building, Cox Architecture's design will see the tower sited for the most part on vacant land adjacent to the heritage building.

Bouncing between Heritage Victoria and Moreland City Council, the application includes hotel suites for Adina across levels 2-10, with levels 11-17 dedicated toward apartment living.

<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/image49_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Planning image: Cox Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="255" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image49_6.jpg?itok=4mlZbgFA" title="Planning image: Cox Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Planning image: Cox Architecture</figcaption></figure>The tapering tower is finished in silver tinted glazing, silver cladding and clear glass balustrades. B Division Building and the associated annexe building will be reworked into the balance of Adina's hotel component, with a cafe, retail facilities, conference room, restaurant, spa, pool and gym all present over lower levels.

Moreland City Council also recently fielded another application for an adjoining lot that will encompass a new low-rise commercial building. Buchan Group have designed the complex that will be dominated by a supermarket, cinema and smaller format retail tenancies.

Shayher Group's advancement of pending stages of Pentridge comes as the developer realises completion of their first project onsite. Horizon Coburg which includes 53 two and three bedroom apartments is also the first projects to be completed within the Pentridge precinct for some years.

<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_5071.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Horizon Coburg is now complete"><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_5071.jpg?itok=-8wtX9rZ" title="Horizon Coburg is now complete" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Horizon Coburg is now complete</figcaption></figure>With Shayher Group pushing ahead with their slice of Pentridge, fellow developer Future Estate has also been busy with their portion of the undeveloped Pentridge site.

Future Estate's first release, One Coburg Quarter, is headed for construction whilst The Terraces will be the developer's next release. Soft marketing has commenced for the 38-townhouse project facing Urquhart Street, with the project's website showing all 2 bedroom townhouses have all <a href="http://info.futureestate.com.au/theterraces/">ready been accounted for</a>.

Future Estate have also introduced a third developer to Pentridge recently, by way of selling a permitted site to Golden Sunrise Developments. With approval for 294 apartments, Golden Sunrise Developments now has a foothold in the precinct that is just beginning to blossom from a development perspective.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image3fe.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="One Coburg Quarter and The Terraces. Images: Future Estate"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="227" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3fe.jpg?itok=4ZG1_lvk" title="One Coburg Quarter and The Terraces. Images: Future Estate" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>One Coburg Quarter and The Terraces. Images: Future Estate</figcaption></figure>
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Pentridge's silver tower heralds further change within the historic precinct

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After a year where many observers predicted a many great outcomes, particular regarding Melbourne's apartment market, leading sales agent Marshall White Projects posed a question to some of the property industry's leading figures; “where to from here?”.

Looking to the year ahead, the below offer their insights into the market, reflections on the months that have led up to this point and commentary on what we can expect from 2017

<h2>Marshall White Projects Director, Leonard Teplin</h2>

The buying public is becoming far more shrewd and less willing to compromise on inferior layouts, location and services. Meaning those who didn’t get the location and design of their projects right last year found it difficult to make sales.

Comparatively, those who invested in amenity and design came up trumps, with developments in the wealth and private school belts proving the most desirable and profitable. 308 Carlisle Street and 525 High Street are prime examples of this with both projects, which consist of 38 and 45 apartments respectively selling out within just 9 weeks.

Looking to the year ahead, a project’s success or fail will continue to be underpinned by the sales and marketing strategy. The work done upfront, in terms of defining a unique selling proposition and identifying how to effectively communicate this to your target audience, will make or break a development.

Developers must consider the different steps involved in taking their projects to market, how they can in-build a greater element of flexibility here (i.e. allowances for customisation), reinforce a positive message and increase prices without increasing their own exposure.

<h2>Grocon Head of Residential, Christian Grahame</h2>

2016 was a year that showed continued strength in the apartment market overall. We saw apartments continuing to increase in popularity particularly in the middle suburbs of Melbourne.

Pleasingly, local owner-occupiers re-emerged, demonstrating that well-designed projects in areas with amenity and services are in demand. Grocon’s ‘Greenwich’ project in Fairfield, near sold out in just over a month late last year, with buyers attracted by well-considered design and its charming leafy neighbourhood setting.

However, an overreliance on offshore and investor sales alone, without regard for liveability, worked against some developers, as buyers and financiers became increasingly discerning, and foreign investor taxes were increased by State Governments. In 2017 Grocon will continue to target high amenity neighbourhoods in Melbourne, and Sydney with good design, for owner occupier and investors alike.

In Melbourne we believe that the Government’s recently released apartment standards will help to ensure that new projects will have an increasing focus on good design, and that’s good for everyone.

<h2>Milieu Property Director, Michael McCormack</h2>

2016 demonstrated that purchasers and banks are becoming increasingly more discerning of developments off the plan. Purchasers are after smaller density, high-quality projects in great locations and are willing to wait for the right one.

The sale conversion process and timeline has increased as a result of buyers doing their homework, looking around and not making quick decisions. We have learnt that disclosing all the information up front is actual a great thing; Buyers are now trying to find a distinction between the good and the great and are looking past the glossy imagery and great marketing collateral.

We are providing prices, sizes, floor plans and other in-depth details of a project as well as our beautiful imagery and branding.

This has helped win the attention and trust of our buyers.

<h2>Secret Agent Buyer Advocates Director, Paul Osborne</h2>

Last year was another stellar year for property owners liquidating their assets into the marketplace. Low holding costs have reduced quality offerings for some years now as competing asset alternatives (bonds, shares, fixed income, etc.) offer limited returns and incentivise owners who just sit and hold. 
A trump presidency, local employment conditions, capital controls imposed from Beijing as well as a tightening in local banks attitudes to investors and developers will impose headwinds in 2017.

This long bull run will end and the unknown is whether 2017 will be the year that it concludes. And whether the manner will be in the form of plateau or correction.

Appetite is still robust for inner city dwellings close to lifestyle, transport and employment. Down-sizers are using their strong cash balances to out muscle younger demographics and we expect more of this to come in the year ahead. Overall a strong start to the year expected with rising stock levels set to put that strong start under some strain.

<h2>Kokoda Property Marketing and Sales Director, Sam Tucker</h2>

There are many lessons to be taken from 2016, yet the most significant was the overwhelming movement and evolution of a much more discerning buyer, both investor and owner-occupier alike. Savvy buyers now expect a much higher level of quality and amenity within developments, which underpins longer term capital growth and the lifestyle appeal for downsizers and quality tenants.

We experienced unprecedented sales, despite the negative sentiments being touted by the media across most capital cities. This has heightened the need for leading edge through (in some cases international) interior designers and architects, which strengthen the value proposition and appeal to a wider market.

In 2017, our developments will strive to offer a higher level of amenity and designs inspired by some of the best hotels and architecture around the world.

<h2>CHT Architects Director, David Carabott</h2>

Last year was an important lesson learned for developers – in particular, that speed to market is really critical. Today you have to get your planning permits and sell in the same market you purchased in. That means working with a team that is quick and efficient to allow you that speed.

2016 also saw a change in purchaser aspirations and a shift in market to owner-occupiers who are looking for design excellence, quality, location and amenity. 2017 will see continued reliance on greater amenity within developments and an emphasis on the reputation of those working on the process – from architects and builders to agents. This is especially important for owner-occupiers.

The last part of 2016 was unsettled due to planning uncertainty with the introduction of new guidelines, the Better Apartment Design Standards. In 2017 it’s essential that industry members understand and incorporate those standards into all of their residential work.

 

Urban.com.au has a range of Project Database Upgrade advertising packages which operate on a fixed, predictable cost basis and are designed for a wide range of project marketing campaigns.  <a href="/contact#howto">Click here to contact us for more information.</a>
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Property industry leaders reflect upon 2016 and outline expectations for 2017

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The first tangible building that heralds the start of the Queen Victoria Market's (QVM) renewal is now at <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/property-information/planning-building-registers/Pages/town-planning-permits-register-search-results.aspx?appid=268732">advertising</a>.

Breathe Architecture has designed a new structure, which will act as a temporary market facility whilst the QVM undergoes its comprehensive overhaul. Absorbing a tract of land adjacent to Queen Street, Market Garden as it has been dubbed will cater for traders that are currently spread over airsheds A, B, C and D.

In line with a lengthy construction timeline for the overall QVM precinct redevelopment, market-goers and traders can expect Market Garden to operate for a period of five years.

<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/image35_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial perspective of the Market Garden. Image: OPENWORK Pty Ltd"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="203" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image35_9.jpg?itok=sUJxvCKo" title="Aerial perspective of the Market Garden. Image: OPENWORK Pty Ltd" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial perspective of the Market Garden. Image: OPENWORK Pty Ltd</figcaption></figure>The two storey modular structure will include an open air trading hall at ground level, with a market garden situated above.

Running from Victoria Street to Franklin Street, Market Garden will span 264 metres in length, and encompass 4,100sqm of ground floor trading area. The green spaces across Level 1 will add another 2,250sqm of useable area, with amphitheatre steps at the northern end of the structure for the purposes of event and gallery use.

Whilst the first floor is earmarked as an ‘urban greenhouse’, planning documents also flag the space being used conjointly as an educational facility. 

Breathe Architecture have conceived Market Garden as a lightweight structure, built primarily of steel and Ethylene Tetrafluoroethylene plastic (think Southern Cross Station), with clear glass capping the 13m high form. A degree of design flair comes by way of Market Garden's flanking forms which consist of white bird netting. 

<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/tile-3-qvm-new-market-pavilion668.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Perspective view of temporary pavillion from Victoria Street. Image: City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tile-3-qvm-new-market-pavilion668.jpg?itok=3GLMF4Ye" title="Perspective view of temporary pavillion from Victoria Street. Image: City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Perspective view of temporary pavilion from Victoria Street. Image: City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>Openwork Pty Ltd has chimed in with landscape concept for the project.

Existing street trees onsite will be enclosed with the Market Garden structure, supplemented by new mounded turf and rejuvenated park space at the southern end of the site. Adjacent storage containers in support of Market Garden will also see receive succulent planters atop.

Current timelines for QVM's overhaul has demolition works commencing on the existing market sheds at the turn of 2018, with Market Garden set to be operational by October of this year. Once works are completed for the QVM's $250 million overhaul, Market Garden's prefabricated design will allow it to be potentially relocated and re-used elsewhere.
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Breathe Architecture conceive QVM's new market facility

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Developer GURNER continues to rack up apartment projects within City of Yarra, with the latest an intended apartment development at 23-33 Johnston Street, Collingwood.

Although active across many of Melbourne's inner city suburbs, GURNER continues to cherry pick sites across City of Yarra, with the municipality a honey hole for the Prahran-based outfit. GURNER has also maintained its penchant for well-regarded architecture firms, utilising COX Architecture as the design lead for 23-33 Johnston Street.

COX Architecture joins the likes of Warren and Mahoney, Elenberg Fraser and Koichi Takada Architects as design outfits which have produced apartment schemes for the developer within City of Yarra. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image26_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Johnston Street as is. Planning image: COX Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="335" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image26_5.jpg?itok=6LfMy59B" title="Johnston Street as is. Planning image: COX Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Johnston Street as is. Planning image: COX Architecture</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au's Project Database shows five active projects for GURNER within City of Yarra, headlined by <a href="/new-apartments/26-56-queens-parade-fitzroy-north">26-56 Queens Parade</a> which has garnered <a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/vic/nimbyism-or-greed-development-battles-turn-nasty-20170116-gtsbnd">considerable media attention</a> in recent times.

GURNER's latest entrant at 23-33 Johnston Street encompasses four allotments over 1,873sqm. Located within the Johnston Street Activity Centre, 23-33 Johnston Street would overlook the adjoining Contemporary Arts Precinct which in times gone by, acted as a campus for education provider NMIT.

The recently submitted proposal seeks to replace an existing planning permit onsite for a six level student accommodation complex encompassing 189 student apartments.

Headline figures for the COX Architecture design sees a 12 level mixed use building comprising 154 apartments, dual ground floor food and drink retail outlets over 460sqm and car parking for 121 vehicles. 154 storage cages and 48 bikes are included, as is a landscaped roof garden on level 8.

<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/image24john.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="23-33 Johnston Street. Planning image: COX Architecture"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="542" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image24john.jpg?itok=JG4fhfgz" title="23-33 Johnston Street. Planning image: COX Architecture" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>23-33 Johnston Street. Planning image: COX Architecture</figcaption></figure>The proposal will also maintain a considerable portion of the original building's frontage to Johnston Street, with the tower's curved facade taking its design impetus from the nearby Keith Haring mural.

23-33 Johnston Street aside, <a href="/buildings/victoria-vine-1-57-wellington-street-collingwood">1-35 Wellington Street</a> and the <a href="/buildings/the-spanish-club-57-61-johnston-street-fitzroy">Spanish Club's redevelopment</a> join 26-56 Queens Parade as projects that are at planning for the developer. Across these combined four projects currently at planning, roughly 570 apartments can be added to GURNER's pipeline. This number would have been far greater, but for the redesign of 26-56 Queens Parade which has seen the proposal lose as many as 120 apartments.

Other projects directly under the guidance of GURNER include <a href="/buildings/28-stanley-street-collingwood">28 Stanley Street</a> which is receiving its finishing touches and the freshly completed 107 Cambridge Street which has revamped part of the Foy &amp; Gibson Precinct to include 90 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/image29_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="107 Cambridge along with a render 26-56 Queens Parade. Image: Koichi Takada Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="242" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image29_9.jpg?itok=cVD1j_Fi" title="107 Cambridge along with a render 26-56 Queens Parade. Image: Koichi Takada Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>107 Cambridge along with the original 26-56 Queens Parade. Image: Koichi Takada Architects</figcaption></figure>
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GURNER's affinity with Yarra continues

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Far from the many apartment projects that are the bread and butter of this website, there are of course a variety of developments that cater, or intend to cater for the fraction of our society's population that find themselves in hardship.

Among the 1,300 plus listings within the Apartments.com.au Project Database are a smattering of projects such as 179-191 Flemington Road that are designed to cover the needs of the vulnerable, be they homeless or displaced.

Another grass roots design contribution within Newport is currently under construction, with the aim of providing specific women's housing under a higher density built form. 

Architecture firm <a href="/architects/clarke-hopkins-clarke-0">ClarkeHopkinsClarke</a> during 2016 settled upon a design for a new women's housing development within the Hobsons Bay suburb, which upon completion will provide another outlet for affordable and safe long-term housing to women, many of whom are escaping family violence. 

All tenants in the development will come from the public housing waiting list, with rent set at a maximum 75 per cent of the market price, or 30 per cent of the household’s income. Undertaken by Women’s Housing Ltd, Newport is funded by a $5.5 million grant from the Victorian Property Fund, which is administered by Consumer Affairs Victoria.

From a design perspective, there were several elements which ClarkeHopkinsClarke incorporated into the project's design to allow it would respond to the needs of social housing for that area. Melding with its surrounds, the building's frontage appears as little more than two double-story townhouses, whereas the development actually includes 20 one and two bedroom 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/1384_image_02b-1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Street level view of Newport's social housing addition. Image: ClarkeHopkinsClarke"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="287" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/1384_image_02b-1.jpg?itok=oTUgKnlC" title="Street level view of Newport's social housing addition. Image: ClarkeHopkinsClarke" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Street level view of Newport's social housing addition. Image: ClarkeHopkinsClarke</figcaption></figure>ClarkeHopkinsClarke's Newport design sees the apartments take on the look and feel of a traditional residential home. The three storey building is designed to read as two double storey townhouses from the street, with the third floor recessed and cloaked from view within the angular roofline.

On-grade car parking, terraces for each dwelling and a design which allows for ageing in place are also project design highlights.

Newport's design reflects ClarkeHopkinsClarke's previous success with their first development for Women's Housing Ltd in Bayswater, which subsequently snared Winner for Affordable Housing at the 2012 UDIA Victoria Awards for Excellence. 

According to ClarkeHopkinsClarke and Women's Housing Ltd, the majority of tenants in the Bayswater building are victims of domestic violence, and prior to the development were living in women’s refuges, cars or couch surfing with family and friends. Women’s Housing Ltd's Judy Line says that increased public awareness campaigns surrounding domestic violence against women has helped secure more funding for projects of this ilk. 
The Newport build is midway with completion expected mid to late 2017.
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CHC's grass roots contribution to the community and the needs of the vulnerable

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The rampant growth in Melbourne's student housing sector will likely gain extra impetus, with international operator GSA Group lining up a second inner city development.

With their initial Melbourne foray reaching an important construction marker over the last week, GSA Australia will now look to develop a pre-approved site at 684-688 Elizabeth Street. City of Melbourne had previously granted approval for a 19 storey, SJB Architects-designed tower with 120 apartments in tow over the site which also fronts Berkeley Street.

At that stage LBP Group Holdings Pty Ltd was the nominated owner/developer, although along the way GSA Australia have snared the site and now plan a student accommodation tower with a nominal development cost of $40 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/image11_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="DKO Architecture's new design as seen from Berkeley Street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="541" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image11_12.jpg?itok=xoB0hY-s" title="DKO Architecture's new design as seen from Berkeley Street" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>DKO Architecture's new design as seen from Berkeley Street</figcaption></figure>Having only re-entered the Australian market during 2016 via subsidiary GSA Australia, GSA Group at the timed flagged their intentions of securing <a href="https://www.gsa-gp.com/asia-pacific/australia/">25,000 beds under management by 2025</a>.

<a href="/new-apartments/205-223-pelham-street-carlton">205-223 Pelham Street</a> as the group's first Melbourne endeavour gained a tower crane last week, with the eventual result a DKO Architecture-designed building set behind a retained heritage facade.

684-688 Elizabeth Street is much the same in that DKO Architecture are once more at the design helm, with the tower for the most adhering to the approved design envelope of the previous scheme. This includes the redesigned tower maintaining a setback to the existing and historically sensitive Elizabeth Street frontage.

Expected behind is a tower that would absorb 327 beds set within 246 student rooms. A retail outlet and communal spaces span the tower ground floor footprint, with further communal spaces across levels 1 and 11 and within the basement.

<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_4122.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="GSA Australia's Pelham Street project gathers construction momentum"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="729" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4122.jpg?itok=4iDX1GO_" title="GSA Australia's Pelham Street project gathers construction momentum" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>GSA Australia's Pelham Street project gathers construction momentum</figcaption></figure>684-688 Elizabeth Street effectively heads a conga line of upcoming student accommodation projects covering the northern reaches of Melbourne CBD through to the Haymarket Roundabout.

Waiting in the wings are projects such as <a href="/developments/north-melbourne-vic-3051">15-27 Wreckyn Street</a>, <a href="/developments/north-melbourne-vic-3051">1 Flemington Road</a>, <a href="/developments/north-melbourne-vic-3051">5-17 Flemington Road</a>, <a href="/developments/carlton-vic-3053">197-235 Bouverie Street</a>, <a href="/developments/carlton-vic-3053">557-591 Swanston Street</a> and <a href="/buildings/599-605-swanston-street-carlton">599-605 Swanston Street</a>. These projects along with GSA Australia's will add in excess of 3,000 student beds to the inner Melbourne student accommodation market.

Furthermore, construction is underway on some of the city's larger student-oriented projects. <a href="/new-apartments/iglu-229-franklin-street-melbourne">IGLU</a>, <a href="/buildings/scape-melbourne-393-swanston-street-melbourne">Scape Melbourne</a> and <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">42-50 La Trobe Street</a> will combine to add thousands of additional new beds for students.

Waiting in the wings is the new 97 Franklin Street with Scape recently adding the site to its development portfolio, while South Africa-based Redefine has approval for the repurposing of 16-32 Leicester Street from a multi-level car park into their first Australian student project.
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GSA Group go again; adds to the crush of student accommodation projects

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Although applications for substantially tall apartment towers have eased over recent times within City of Stonnington, two current development applications across Prahran and South Yarra represent the next sling of smaller sized towers for the municipality.

A 14 storey apartment building at 10-16 Cecil Place is being sought by Bensons Property Group. The quiet Prahran thoroughfare is eventually expected to be graced by the Fender Katsalidis-designed building that includes 92 dwellings, with the vast majority of those encompassing two bedrooms.

10-16 Cecil Place along with <a href="/buildings/vanguard-781-807-dandenong-road-malvern-east">Vanguard</a> and <a href="/buildings/chronicle-960-high-street-armadale">Chronicle</a> sees a total of 447 dwellings across various stages of development within Stonnington under the Bensons umbrella.

<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/image6_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Cecil Place development as envisaged from Chapel Street. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="315" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image6_12.jpg?itok=Cf4NyvXg" title="The Cecil Place development as envisaged from Chapel Street. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Cecil Place development as envisaged from Chapel Street. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure>Replacing a low-rise commercial building which spans the 1,263sqm site, 10-16 Cecil Place's proposal carries an estimated cost of development of just under $21 million.

Existing built form precedents in the immediate area rise to a similar height, with the most notable being Caydon's Troligi development. Set atop four basement levels for 96 vehicles, 10-16 Cecil Place's ground floor will also include a 229sqm food/drink venue and a 127sqm retail outlet.

Fender Katsalidis have taken steps to compliment yet distance the tower from the adjoining property which carries heritage value. Expression lines across the proposed podium facade match the scale of the heritage facade, with a similar degree of density also employed, as opposed to the tower proper's glazed finish.

Whilst 10-16 Cecil Place shapes as a future Bensons project, Vanguard is at construction. With ABD Group enlisted as builder, Vanguard includes 3 basement levels supporting 18 above ground levels and 323 apartments, 2 retail spaces and a gymnasium.

<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/image45_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="121-123 Commercial Road. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image45_4.jpg?itok=4z_y4Chd" title="121-123 Commercial Road. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>121-123 Commercial Road. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>121-123 Commercial Road on the other hand represents Headland Properties' latest foray into the Melbourne apartment market.

Partially sited above the adjacent rail corridor, Headland's proposal includes a ten storey building, with VicTrack and structural engineering specialists having been included during the design stage. In preliminary feedback, City of Stonnington expressed concern about the buildings intended height of 33.8m, which exceeds the preferred height of 18 metres for the area as specified by the proposed Activity Centre Zone overlay.

In its submitted form, the Elenberg Fraser-designed 121-123 Commercial Road includes two retail spaces totalling 267sqm, 80 apartments, 88 car spaces and 42 bicycle spaces at ground level. Key to the design is a large courtyard fronting Commercial Road, which doubles as the building's major design feature.

From a public perspective, 121-123 Commercial Road also includes a new 3m wide proposed public footpath / bike path linking Osborne Street and Balmoral Street that would be maintained by the building's future body corporate.
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Bensons and Headland sign in at Stonnington

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...where are they all?

It's been well documented that a cyclical movement has swung the pendulum from one end of the scale to the other. Investment grade apartment stock around Melbourne's CBD is out, with demand now high for lavish, large two and three bedrooms dwellings in certain suburbs as developers now chase the well-heeled buyer.

But where exactly are these high-end two and particularly three bedroom apartments located around Melbourne?

An article in yesterday's Domain demonstrates the <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/melbourne-apartments-number-of-bedrooms-hard-to-pinpoint-as-developers-reign-20170203-gu35rn/">perceived lack of clarity</a> regarding the apartment mix of any given suburb, or project for that matter.

<blockquote>
So you’d be forgiven for thinking that you could easily find out exactly how many one-bedroom apartments were suddenly in your street. After all, we know how many houses there are.

But it turns out trying to pinpoint the number of neighbours you may have is actually harder than you might think. Local councils, usually responsible for approving such developments, are not required to collate information on the exact number of different types of apartments.

Not even the state government or Australian Bureau of Statistics regularly keep tabs on the diversity of apartments approved across the city and whether there will be enough to cater for families.
<cite>Christina Zhou: Domain 5/2/2017</cite>
</blockquote>

The State Government or Australian Bureau of Statistics may not, but Apartments.com.au certainly does.

Of the 1300 plus current residential projects within the Apartments.com.au Project Database, the vast majority of projects retain numbers relating apartment types, whether they be one, two, three bedroom, studio, penthouse or otherwise. In fact it's not difficult to track a given projects apartment breakdown, but rather maintaining accurate figures during the often lengthy period between planning approval and sales commencement can be a tricky undertaking owing to developers changing their mix's to mirror current buyer trends.

Which brings us to the heart of the matter. Where are all the 3 bedroom apartments situated across metropolitan Melbourne right now?

<h2>Pouring over the Apartments.com.au Project Database</h2>

As always there's a smattering of three bedroom apartments in forthcoming apartment projects Melbourne-wide.

The larger number of three bedroom apartments though are skewed across certain suburbs south and east of Melbourne's CBD, in line with existing demographics. More affluent stretches of Melbourne gain a proportionately higher share of the three bedroom market. Bayside suburbs, South Yarra, Glen Iris and Bentleigh are but a few.

Unsurprisingly established blue chip suburbs such as East Melbourne and Toorak also garner more than their fair share of three bedroom apartments.

More so it's very much site specific. Location, amenities and views will dictate that certain apartment projects can attract a higher number of three bedroom dwellings, compared to other projects in the same suburb or even the same precinct.

<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_4370.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="No 3BR within Fishermans Bend's first tower"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="479" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_4370.jpg?itok=KuRSwXMJ" title="No 3BR within Fishermans Bend's first tower" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>No three bedroom apartments on offer within Fishermans Bend's first tower build</figcaption></figure>And a cautionary word for all those who espouse the notion that Fishermans Bend will be a haven for three bedroom apartments, as has been touted by various planning authorities. Submitted planning numbers and as yet unreleased development schedules for pending apartments project launches that Apartments.com.au have been privy to still show a proportionately small number of three bedroom apartments within the urban renewal area.

Fishermans Bend like anywhere else across Melbourne is a case of matching the right product with the right location, and the precinct as yet doesn't have the market depth to warrant a mass of three bedroom apartments being offered.

<h2>Examples that define the three bedroom surge</h2>

Prime examples in the shift to larger apartments/increased bedrooms include Magnate Developments upcoming apartment project at <a href="/new-apartments/ville-638-malvern-road-prahran">638 Malvern Road, Prahran</a>. With planning approval in place and registrations of interest commenced, the developer has seen it fit to head back to planning with the intention of providing fewer apartments within the development for the sake of additional three bedroom and a four bedroom apartment within the approved envelope.

Much the same has occurred at Espace within Middle Park, with the approved development shrinking from 27 dwellings to 8 larger abodes. Nearby, Barana Group's pending <a href="/buildings/saint-moritz-st-kilda-14-16-the-esplanade-st-kilda">14-16 The Esplanade</a> on St Kilda's foreshore has seen overall apartment numbers shrink from 300 to 236, with the corresponding number of three bedroom apartments nearly tripling from 31 to 86.

<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/image2_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Metier3's take on The Esplanade"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="334" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image2_10.jpg?itok=JLvQW2WV" title="Metier3's take on The Esplanade" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Metier3's take on The Esplanade</figcaption></figure>The most recent example to hit the Apartments.com.au Project Database  is <a href="/buildings/the-botanic-collection-30-anderson-street-south-yarra">22-30 Anderson Street, South Yarra</a>, with the proposal backed by Kayrope Properties Pty Ltd exclusively the domain of three bedroom apartments. Designed by Robert Mills Architects, the ten oversize apartments look to continue the suburb's ability to absorb larger apartments.

Whilst three bedrooms apartments look to be garnering their fair share of media attention and increasing their overall reach throughout Melbourne's apartment market, it still remains a case of matching the right product with the right location, as it has always been.
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Three bedroom apartments are in vogue, but...

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The latest and last of Footscray's Joseph Road Precinct super-sites has gone to advertising, outlining a quartet of residential towers planned for the site which is referred to as 2 Nielson Place.

No less that 577 apartments are requested as part of a permit that would square away Joseph Road Precinct's final major land allotment. FJP Pty Ltd is behind the development push, with Architecton in the primary design role; something they would be altogether used to given their existing design experience within the precinct.

Following on from an initial application, revised plans were submitted late last year which lessened the height of three towers and consequently the overall apartment yield.

<h2>2 Neilson Place 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/image35_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Architecton's latest project for the precinct."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="527" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image35_8.jpg?itok=ZpmurAUP" title="Architecton's latest project for the precinct." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Architecton's latest project for the precinct.</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>Vacant land plot of 6,264sqm with two street frontages</li>
	<li>Proposed quartet of towers, with the tallest at 26 levels or 86 metres</li>
	<li>577 apartments: 230 x 1BR, 274 x 2BR, 73 x 3BR</li>
	<li>Average apartment sizes: 1BR: 46sqm, 2BR: 76sqm, 3BR: 115sqm</li>
	<li>290sqm of ground floor food/drink space</li>
	<li>465sqm of commercial office space</li>
	<li>3,113sqm of communal open space</li>
	<li>3,382sqm of internal communal facilities</li>
	<li>Podium parking for 572 cars</li>
	<li>Estimated development cost: $180 million</li>
</ul>
<h2>Amenity plus</h2>

The staged development is noteworthy for the level of amenity that it intends to bring to the precinct.

As outlined above, a combined total of 6,495sqm of communal space is dedicated to the 577 apartments, which equates to an average of 11.26sqm of open space per apartment. This figure is very much symptomatic of the larger, staged developments within Joseph Road Precinct.

Project specific amenities include podium-top facilities such as a gym, pool, change rooms, internal and external lounge areas, shared kitchen, dining areas, yoga room and a large landscaped open space area. Each tower rooftop sees an external courtyard adjoining an internal multi-purpose area.

Aesthetically 2 Nielson Place's major tower has been designed to be clad in rose gold glass, with Luna St Kilda cited as a design example. Offsetting the 86m golden edifice would be a smaller tower with light grey tinted glass as its primary expression, while the smaller duo would feature dark glass framed by offwhite composite panels.

'Sandstone' finished tiles are envisaged for the projects ground level interface, providing the street level with a 'softer' more earthier appearance.

<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/image34_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Amenity to the fore"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="412" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image34_9.jpg?itok=1awYbeLP" title="Amenity to the fore" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Amenity to the fore</figcaption></figure><h2>Joseph Road Precinct at large</h2>

2 Nielson Place is Joseph Road Precinct's seventh major development; of those seven, five can be considered multi-tower developments. At this stage and assuming 2 Nielson Place is approved along its current design path, 23 residential buildings are slated for the precinct, with none yet to reach completion.

2 Nielson Place's 577 apartments adds to the roughly 3,385 apartments already given the nod for the riverside precinct. These apartments will be delivered in towers of up to 31 levels.

How Joseph Road Precinct's planning outcomes compare to initial structure plan expectations will be the subject of another forthcoming article.

<h2>2 Neilson Place development team</h2>

<ul>
<li>FJP Pty Ltd ATF Palazzo Family Superannuation Fund</li>
	<li>Architecture and Urban Context: Architecton</li>
	<li>Planning: Urbis</li>
	<li>Landscape Plan: Urbis Landscape Architects</li>
	<li>Traffic Engineering Assessment: Ratio</li>
	<li>Acoustic, Pedestrian Level Winds and Wind Tunnel Test: Vipac</li>
	<li>Sustainable Management Plan: Sustainability House</li>
	<li>Waste Management Plan: Ratio</li>
	<li>Cultural Heritage Report: Terra Culture</li>
</ul>
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2 Neilson Place rounds out Footscray's Joseph Road Precinct

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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mark Baljak

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