Dubai-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/arada-australia">Arada Australia</a> is preparing to officially enter the Sydney apartment market, starting in Castle Hill.

Arada Australia, who signalled its intent by announcing a development pipeline of $4 billion and then saving, and acquiring, tier-one commercial construction company Roberts Co, has filed a State Significant Development Application for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wattle-green-2-fishburn-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Wattle Green</a>, a three-building development in the Hills Showground Station Precinct.

The buildings, which will be delivered on a 1.1-hectare site fronting Fishburn Crescent, Carrington Road and Middleton Avenue, will have 431 apartments. They have been designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner Studio</a> with landscaping by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>.&nbsp;

The buildings have been arranged around podium courtyards and open communal spaces, with Building A rising to 20 storeys, Building B stepping between 8 and 17, and Building C forming a U-shaped massing of 11 to 12 storeys.

According to the Design Report by Turner Studio, the development will deliver a "highly liveable, connected, and inclusive residential community,” incorporating rooftop terraces, shared indoor amenities, and pedestrian links through the site.&nbsp;

<img alt="Arada" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f00c8c47-8c25-4039-9d42-c4261906e286" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-15%20at%208.07.18%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=SRRxwfZcxygQuYxRn_AsHoh00vJ2_PMj" />

The project includes 25 affordable housing units, representing five per cent of total floor space, located within Building A. These comprise a mix of one and two-bedroom layouts.

The broader residential mix across the three towers includes one-bedroom (nine per cent), two-bedroom (57 per cent), three-bedroom (30 per cent), and four-bedroom (four per cent) apartments, with a strong emphasis on family-sized homes.

The landscape strategy, guided by Arcadia, integrates rooftop gardens, public open space, and a pedestrian connection between Fishburn Crescent and Sexton Avenue.&nbsp;

The design draws from the natural and cultural history of the site, including features of nearby Cattai Creek, and incorporates endemic planting and local materials.

<img alt="Arada" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c29a2ff1-3b45-4f51-851f-83b4b98148aa" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-15%20at%208.07.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=8G9S8LrCc8H.JtPWdzr9q0HAijLRXAk7" />

Arada Australia’s submission under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway highlights the project’s alignment with Transport-Oriented Development principles, capitalising on the site’s 400-metre proximity to Hills Showground Metro Station.

Founded in 2017 in Sharjah, Arada Australia has delivered over 10,000 homes internationally and is now advancing a $4 billion pipeline in Australia. The Castle Hill project is one of several Sydney ventures by the developer, with other sites progressing in Campsie and Canterbury. Arada Australia opened its Sydney office in August 2024 and acquired local construction firm Roberts Co to scale up delivery capabilities.

The site sits within the Showground Priority Precinct, a transport-oriented growth area targeted for 9,000 new homes. The broader neighbourhood is already seeing transformation, with Deicorp’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/showground-pavilions-castle-hill-3-andalusian-way-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Showground Pavilions</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/hills-showground-village-castle-hill-2-mandala-parade-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Hills Showground Village</a> introducing over 1,300 apartments alongside retail, open space, and transport upgrades.

Arada Australia aims to launch the project to the market next year, and commence construction by mid-2027.

Joel Robinson

Arada Australia pitches Wattle Green, Castle Hill apartment plans ahead of 2026 launch

Well advanced in construction of its current East Brisbane tower <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/murcia-residences-east-brisbane-9-overend-street-east-brisbane-qld-4169">Murcia Residences</a>, developer Sarazin has filed plans for its next project in the booming inner-Brisbane area.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sarazin">Sarazin</a>&nbsp;has sought approval from Economic Development Queensland for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/stanley-quarter-825-stanley-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Stanley Quarter</a>, a major two-tower mixed-use project that promises to reshape a key site between Stanley and Trafalgar Streets in Woolloongabba, next door to the iconic stadium.

Occupying a 4,332 sqm site within the Woolloongabba Priority Development Area, Stanley Quarter would comprise two slender towers, 53 and 36 storeys, rising above a shared six-level podium. The project marks the next phase in Sarazin’s transformation of the area following the adjacent Silk One development.

The towers will deliver 447 apartments, split across the two stages: 235 dwellings in the West Tower (36 levels) and 212 in the East Tower (53 levels). A rooftop recreation deck will crown each building. The East Tower, reaching approximately 190 metres, would become one of Brisbane’s tallest buildings outside the CBD, standing just shy of the 195-metre One One One Eagle Street.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151722 project_image_fid=356087]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/group-gsa">GroupGSA</a>’s architectural design integrates subtropical principles, including vertical fins, glass detailing, and extensive greenery. According to the Urban Design Report, the podium will support “active frontages and human-scale interfaces” and house retail, dining, and commercial spaces at ground level, while upper levels contain residential amenities and parking.

A highlight of the proposal is the 1,160 sqm public plaza linking Stanley and Trafalgar Streets. Designed as a landscaped urban courtyard with dining edges and shaded canopies, it offers a direct pedestrian connection through the site. Landscape design is by Wild Studio.

Also planned is a landmark cultural facility, the STEAMM Gallery and Garden, anchored to the East Tower podium. As outlined in the planning documents, this multi-storey facility will include exhibition and studio spaces, with the report stating it represents “a genuine community benefit and cultural anchor for the precinct”.

The basement and podium levels will accommodate 614 car spaces and 483 bicycle spaces across residential, visitor, and commercial use. Vehicle access is proposed via Trafalgar Street, with a flood-resilient basement design and discrete servicing zones.

Positioned close to The Gabba Stadium and the new Cross River Rail station, Stanley Quarter is framed as a catalyst project for Woolloongabba’s ongoing urban regeneration. It supports EDQ’s ambition to create a “walkable, transit-oriented and subtropical mixed-use centre”.

If approved, the project will be delivered in two stages, with the West Tower proceeding first.

Sarazin is currently delivering Murcia Residences, on the fringe of Woolloongabba in East Brisbane.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151722]

Sarazin unveils twin-tower Stanley Quarter in Woolloongabba

Boutique development and construction firm <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hsn-property-group">HSN Property Group</a> is the latest to seek a new apartment development through the NSW Government's&nbsp;Housing Delivery Authority.

They've filed a State Significant Development Application for a nine-storey building across nine consolidated lots on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-16-spencer-street-rose-bay-nsw-2029">Rose Bay's Spencer Street</a>, just 400m from the centre of the affluent suburb.

“The site’s location and context make it well suited to support a more diverse and sustainable residential offering in the area,” the developer stated in community consultation materials.

The plans are for 54 apartments, 14 of which will be dedicated to affordable housing. There will be a mix of two- and three-bedroom apartments.

The proposal aims to contribute to housing diversity in the Woollahra Local Government Area while taking advantage of recent Low and Mid-Rise Housing Reforms introduced under the NSW Housing SEPP, according to the Scoping Report prepared by Urbis.

The architecture, led by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/mhn-design-union">MHNDU</a>, reflects a "contemporary design approach sensitive to the character of Rose Bay." Communal amenities will include a wellness area with a pool and sauna, a gym, a wine lounge, and landscaped spaces with barbecue facilities.&nbsp;

“The proposed development will offer a suite of premium communal amenities designed to enhance resident wellbeing, foster social connection, and promote a healthy lifestyle,” the project team notes in its public materials.

Three levels of basement parking are planned, and EV charging facilities will be included, aligning with sustainability and transport objectives. A comprehensive traffic study is underway to assess and manage local impacts.

With 54 apartments, the proposal by HSN will be one of the largest developments in Rose Bay for decades. It tops the 50 apartments soon to launch by Orosi on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-avenue-rose-bay-1-the-avenue-nsw-2029">The Avenue</a>, near the Royal Sydney Golf Club.&nbsp;

First look: HSN plans Spencer St, Rose Bay apartment project

CBE Asia Pacific has lodged plans for a prominent corner site in Fitzroy North, with a proposal that integrates state-significant affordable housing alongside heritage adaptation and new retail.

The application covers a consolidated 2,024 sqm parcel at 201–215 Queens Parade and 6–12 Dummett Crescent. The site includes the heritage-listed Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, fronting Queens Parade, and vacant land to the rear abutting Dummett Crescent.

According to planning documents prepared by proUrban, the proposal seeks approval for a 12-storey residential building comprising 98 apartments, including a component of affordable housing, over a ground floor retail podium integrated within the heritage structure. Approximately 780 sqm of retail space will occupy the ground floor, while residents will have access to over 850 sqm of communal amenity.

The built form presents as two connected volumes: a 12-storey tower addressing Dummett Crescent and a five-storey volume fronting Queens Parade, the latter consistent with a separate Heritage Victoria permit granted in 2023. The tower reaches a maximum height of 38.26 metres, with upper-level setbacks of 14 metres from the western boundary to reduce visual bulk. A 1.5-metre footpath widening is proposed to Dummett Crescent Lane.

Parking is provided across four basement levels, accessed via Dummett Crescent, with a total of 142 car spaces and 143 bicycle spaces.

The architectural response by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cht-architects">CHT Architects</a> is framed by a need to reconcile new density with a sensitive heritage overlay. The Former Clifton Motor Hill Garage, identified as a place of State heritage significance, will retain its key façades, with demolition and reconstruction limited to approved elements.

As noted in the Heritage Impact Assessment, the proposal remains consistent with the Heritage Victoria permit, which allows "partial demolition, reconstruction and new works, involving the construction of a five-storey multi-use development and three basement levels".

Affordable housing has been embedded into the proposal under Clause 53.23, with specific apartment allocations aimed at enhancing housing diversity within the Queens Parade Activity Centre.

"The proposal is generally consistent with the relevant policy objectives and the intent of the Yarra Planning Scheme," proUrban states in its planning assessment, citing its alignment with strategic documents including Plan Melbourne and Victoria’s Housing Statement.

CHT Architects' plans emphasise a tiered design that acknowledges the site's varied interfaces—from the elevated Heidelberg Road ramp reserve to the recently built Clifton Views aged care facility to the north-east.

CBE Asia Pacific has not been previously active in this precinct, but the project joins a wave of higher-density residential proposals along the Queens Parade corridor, spurred by Melbourne’s broader push to increase affordable housing in well-connected inner-urban areas.

The site benefits from direct access to the Queens Parade tram corridor and proximity to Clifton Hill Station (approximately 200 metres), as well as green open spaces including Mayors Park and Raines Reserve. Clifton Hill Primary School and the Queens Parade retail village lie within walking distance.

Staff Writer

First look: CBE Asia Pacific plans 100-apartment Jenkin House on Queens Parade, Fitzroy North

&nbsp;Boutique development and construction firm Ryser has filed plans for its debut apartment building.

Ryser, founded by Jonthan Ryan and Wil Prosser, has sought to develop <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/sorelle-4a-fern-place-woollahra-nsw-2025">Sorelle</a>, 28 new apartments at 4a Fern Place, Woollahra.

The&nbsp;750 sqm site on the edge of Bondi Junction falls within the Grafton Precinct Heritage Conservation Area, though it is currently vacant and not identified as a contributory item.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a> has been commissioned to design Sorelle, creating an eight and a nine-storey building with six apartments dedicated to affordable housing to support essential workers&nbsp;under the NSW Government’s low and mid-rise housing policy.

The dwelling mix includes 12 one-bedroom units, six one-bedroom affordable units, six two-bedroom units, and four three-bedroom residences.<img alt="4A Fern Place, Woollahra." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86626941-772d-49c5-8d31-a8e42f44cdcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Fern%20bldg%20st.png?VersionId=tWIzXYX9gD60nP1L3..Z0BFbY5mafb36" />

According to the planning documents submitted to the Woollahra Council, the development responds to the complex interface of heritage fabric and urban infrastructure with two mid-rise residential buildings oriented to the north and designed to capitalise on sweeping views over Sydney Harbour and Bellevue Hill.&nbsp;

“The proposal aims to hero some of the brick detailing of Woollahra, celebrating the existing datums of Fern Place, whilst embracing the strong verticals of the Holy Cross Church and Bondi Junction with a nod to the historic iron works and iron rich soils of the area,” Woods Bagot noted in their Design Report.

&nbsp;

Only three car parking spaces are proposed, alongside 33 bicycle bays, in a move that leverages the site's proximity to Bondi Junction train station, just 400 metres away.

Architecturally, the material palette incorporates Corten steel and face brickwork to reference the site’s industrial past and local geological character. Landscaping features include a communal garden bridging the two buildings at ground level, landscaped setbacks to protect visual privacy, and a small corner park intended to soften the public interface.

<img alt="4A Fern Place, Woollahra." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f71766d6-aa14-44df-9bc5-42f91890fd4a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Fern%20bldg%20rear.png?VersionId=uh7u1rJ6NJF5OqyRs9iNJcy6R9ssgaXU" />

Ryser said Sorelle "brings together the best of both worlds, the intimacy of village life with the amenity and luxury of modern design."

The developer said the project marks the first of three developments they will be announcing shortly, a key step in their&nbsp;evolution as a builder-developer delivering meaningful, high quality urban outcomes across Sydney.

The expectation is the Woollahra LGA will become popular for developers with the signal from the NSW Government they will deliver&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw" target="">Sydney</a>’s first new heavy rail station in more than a decade – enabling up to 10,000 new homes by rezoning land around&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/woollahra-nsw-2025" target="">Woollahra</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/edgecliff-nsw-2027" target="">Edgecliff</a>&nbsp;stations.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/next-stop-woollahra-train-station-delivering-up-to-10-000-new-homes-in-the-heart-of-sydney">Next stop Woollahra train station - delivering up to 10,000 new homes in the heart of Sydney&nbsp;</a>

First look: Ryser plans two apartment buildings on Woollahra, Bondi Junction border

Southport is set for one of its tallest new apartment developments in recent years with the approval of Malua, a 32-level tower just one row back from Broadwater.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/malua-18-22-norman-street-southport-qld-4215">Norman St tower</a> will comprise 151 apartments within the Southport Priority Development Area. The three adjoining lots, totalling 1,215 sqm, are currently occupied by three two-storey buildings, one a house, and two duplexes.

The majority of the apartments will be two-bedders (126), with just five one-bedroom apartments and 20 three-bedrooms. There will be three basement levels, three podium levels, and a rooftop communal space with a pool, gym, private dining areas and business hub facilities.

<img alt="Malua" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21ab3437-de39-432c-b991-f33227b606dd" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-06%20at%208.41.37%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=_dOcjcvmSMyn6utzzviBVCAgDp5ZCo_N" />

There had been prior approval for a 14-storey building, however those plans became financially unviable.

“The proposed development seeks to resolve financial viability issues of the existing development approval by providing a higher density development with a more favourable unit mix and streamlined design,” the planning report submitted to the Gold Coast City Council noted.

Plus Studio designed the tower which "aims to contribute positively to the evolving Southport skyline, with vertical relief elements, sculpted facades, and rooftop crowning features."

“When stepping into the lobby from Norman Street, pedestrians and residents pass through a sculpted podium of lush green foliage in an earthy entry experience,” Plus wrote in its design report, emphasising the landscape-led approach to the podium and ground plane.

<img alt="Malua" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="694202c2-be8f-4cde-be26-a494293058a6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-06%20at%208.42.15%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NOIFuolMkoE8vNerov63rnbFRk_TnYUy" />

There is renewed confidence in the development market in Southport. Buyers have jumped at the chance to buy at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maris-southport-20-queen-street-southport-qld-4215">Maris</a>, the latest local Gold Coast development by MRCB. Over 75 per cent of the 192 apartments have been snapped up prior to launching to the market.&nbsp;

The last notable launch in the suburb was in late 2023 when <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/eden-garden-residences-20-bauer-street-southport">Eden Garden Residences</a> hit the market. The 54 apartments, on the corner of Bauer Street and Chester Terrace, are under construction and due to complete in mid-2026.

First look: Southport tower Malua to rise 32 levels in latest Gold Coast approval

Woolworths Group’s development arm, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/fabcot">Fabcot</a>, has unveiled its latest mixed-use development.

They are seeking to reshape a prominent site in Gladesville, on the northern edge of the town centre. They've filed a&nbsp;State Significant Development Application for the amalgamated 5,623 sqm block with street frontages to Victoria Road and Eltham Street that will see <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/363-victoria-road-gladesville-nsw-2111">two buildings with 171 apartments</a> sit above an activated retail ground plane.

The tallest tower, at 13 storeys, will face Victoria Road and home 115 dwellings. A smaller nine-sytorey tower, stepping down to Eltham Street, will have the remaining 56 apartments.

The towers will rise above a podium containing a full-line 3,800 sqm Woolworths supermarket and cafe, activating along the Westminster and Eltham Street frontages.

<img alt="Fabcot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="da042a40-288e-41b8-becc-080f235a3717" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-06%20at%208.13.26%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=n99ay71Clcy6WLP4Uajw2ph6BA61wboV" />

The residential offering will include 19 one-bedroom, 118 two-bedroom, and 34 three-bedroom apartments. Residents will have access to rooftop communal terraces on both buildings, as well as a podium-level garden, contributing a total of 1,411 sqm of communal open space.

According to the Urban Design Report by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/clarke-hopkins-clarke">ClarkeHopkinsClarke</a>, “The massing places height and density along Victoria Road, reinforcing its role as the commercial spine, while stepping down towards neighbouring areas to ensure appropriate scale transitions.”&nbsp;

The design draws inspiration from the local geology and waterways, with curving tower forms and a warm, tactile material palette referencing Hawkesbury sandstone and nearby riverine landscapes.

The proposal also includes basement parking across three to four levels, accommodating 392 car spaces - 190 for retail and 202 for residents.

<img alt="Fabcot" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f1a01073-9a13-4ba7-9c14-43c84a751e26" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-11-06%20at%208.13.51%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=KSImA_iSQiIgSRMswm7.5Sg.WRZ0fZjg" />

Fabcot is aiming to deliver a “landmark building with civic presence,” leveraging the prominent corner site to anchor the precinct’s urban renewal.

“The building’s corner location and carefully sculpted form establish it as a landmark for North Gladesville,” the Urban Design Report notes.

ClarkeHopkinsClarke has previously collaborated on other Woolworths mixed-use projects, and here again deploys stepped setbacks, articulation, and extensive landscaping to manage bulk and enhance street-level engagement. A colonnaded brick base provides texture and rhythm to the podium, while upper levels curve softly to maximise views and cross-ventilation.

The development sits within the North Gladesville Precinct, an area earmarked for transformation under Ryde’s local planning strategy. It is well-served by bus connections along Victoria Road and within proximity to community infrastructure, schools, and riverside parkland.

Gladesville is set for a full transformation with developer Third.i also planning a major mixed-use development in the area. They are seeking to redevelop the Gladesville Village Shopping Centre into an&nbsp;integrated precinct with more than 500 apartments, a new supermarket, and significant public domain upgrades.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-third-i-plots-500-unit-redevelopment-of-gladesville-village-shopping-centre">First look: Third.i plots 500-unit redevelopment of Gladesville Village Shopping Centre</a>

Fabcot reveals mixed-use plans for Gladesville town centre

Canberra developer Bisa Property has received planning approval for Miru, a new 46-townhouse development in Denman Prospect.

Occupying a prominent 6,869 sqm ridgeline site across Holborow Avenue and Goedecke Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/miru-holborow-avenue-denman-prospect-act-2611">Miru</a> will comprise four architecturally unified buildings ranging between two and three storeys. The townhouses are arranged to maximise views of the Molonglo Valley to the east and Stromlo’s bushland to the west, offering residents a rare dual outlook.

There will be 30 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom townhouses, with seven different floorplan layouts.

“The townhouses are carefully arranged to harmonize with the landscape, grouped into four subtly distinct yet cohesive blocks,” the Development Outcomes Report prepared by Planit Strategic notes.

"Each block of townhouses is designed to maximise views… while ensuring access to natural cross-ventilation and daylight”.

<img alt="Bisa secures approval for Miru, a 46-townhouse project atop Denman Prospect ridge" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="91d3f5b1-6fbf-4da1-be41-b5aa9596d233" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Miru%20front.png?VersionId=K5Dhr0.4iMvji9swNnBv1Exuj8PKCay7" />

A standout element of the design is the integration of landscaping and open space. All homes will have private courtyards, while residents and visitors will benefit from extensive communal landscaping and dedicated visitor parking. A key pedestrian corridor running east to west will link public open space and enhance site permeability.

The site is zoned RZ5 and sits within the newly developed Denman Prospect estate. While currently vacant, the area forms part of a broader plan for high-quality residential infill in the Molonglo Valley. The project’s scale and low-rise format ensure a measured transition to the adjacent lower-density housing, with generous setbacks and minimal overshadowing.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/bronte-group">Bronte Group</a>&nbsp;is tasked with the sales of Miru. They have sold several projects in the area in recent years including&nbsp;Symmetry, 83 townhouses down the road in 2022, as well as Solai, and Aberconway Rise. They are currently selling Central Park, a mix of apartments and townhouses in the suburb around 15km west of the capital.

Bisa Property secures approval for Miru, Denman Prospect townhouse development

Burgeoning developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/freecity">Freecity</a>&nbsp;is the latest to take on the booming North Sydney apartment market, one of the most popular suburbs with off the plan buyers.

They are taking a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/153-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">51-storey tower on Walker Street</a> to the NSW Government's&nbsp;Housing Delivery Authority, filing a State Significant Development Application for 300 apartments above a 150-room hotel. It will replace two commercial office buildings.

According to the Scoping Report prepared by Urbis, the development will "support the ongoing evolution of North Sydney by delivering a high-quality, mixed-use tower in close proximity to major public infrastructure."

They also said it “responds to the competing urban demands” of housing, hospitality, and employment.

<img alt="153–157 Walker Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="53e44b04-851c-496e-b90c-e4d77aa8f000" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Waler-St-Elevated-View-600x600.jpg?VersionId=fSDYrb1wJR.RVZVWo3wRUaw9n265x1Ka" />

The vertical program places hotel uses on levels one to six, activated by a retail arcade and hotel entry, while the upper levels contain communal amenity and transition spaces. The residential component will be delivered across levels 8 to 47 and includes a mix of one to three-bedroom apartments. Shared facilities include a rooftop lounge, dining space, and landscaped terrace with panoramic views.&nbsp;

The design also accommodates a publicly accessible through-site link connecting Walker and Little Walker Streets.&nbsp;

<img alt="Freecity" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26165ce9-e49d-4efb-9e9c-037392707d9f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_1.png?VersionId=lAet4uJy_uNw3nc2e6hBc6302r9Q1dUB" />

The built form continues to reflect the earlier design vision by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/architectus">Architectus</a>, with a distinctive two-volume massing: hotel podium stepping down to Little Walker Street, and the slender residential tower rising above. The architecture intends to balance North Sydney’s increasing urban density with solar access, view sharing, and a fine-grain public realm interface.

“The form has been sculpted to preserve sky view corridors and reduce visual bulk,” the Design Report by Architectus previously noted, highlighting view preservation and contextual integration.

Importantly, this latest iteration supersedes an earlier SSD pathway explored in late 2024 for a build-to-rent and hotel project. That alternative scheme has since been shelved following Freecity’s successful submission to the HDA’s new streamlined approval stream.

<img alt="153–157 Walker Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f70e4ee4-4599-411b-9fc1-802c4292819e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Littile-Walker_Elevated-800x600.jpg?VersionId=zhfw3NMg_jchSSWuUHJJg8.m.qhqZgYM" />

The site sits within the Victoria Cross Station State Significant Precinct and is expected to integrate with broader public domain upgrades around the Metro station, including new pedestrian links and plaza connections between Berry and Walker Streets.

&nbsp;

North Sydney has been one of the most indemand suburbs in Sydney, however it has struggled with supply. <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/aura-by-aqualand-north-sydney-168-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">AURA by Aqualand</a> was one of the only developments in market for several years, until the recent launches of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-173-179-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a>, which sold over $100m of sales in three hours, and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-mclaren-north-sydney-45-mclaren-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The McLaren</a> by CASA.

&nbsp;

Freecity joins booming North Sydney apartment market with 51-storey tower proposal near Victoria Cross

Prolific Sydney developer Landmark Group is continuing to expand its growing development portfolio.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/landmark-group">Landmark Group</a>, which is progressing with a new Edgecliff project alongside current developments in Macquarie Park and Caringbah, is set to deliver rare new apartment supply in Lindfield, the affluent suburb on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. The projects form part of the NSW Government’s broader push to increase housing density around key transport hubs.

The developer currently has two proposals under assessment through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority. Together, they comprise nearly 400 apartments, 220 across a large 6,672 sqm amalgamated site spanning Trafalgar Avenue and Valley Road, and a further 173 apartments just 300 metres away on Middle Harbour Road.

The Trafalgar Avenue project, dubbed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/lindfield-house-59-63-trafalgar-avenue-lindfield-nsw-2070">Lindfield House</a>, is located around 500 metres from Lindfield train station. It will feature 220 apartments across three buildings. Architecture firm DKO, which designed the scheme, said in its submission that the façade strategy is guided by design principles promoting refined architectural expression, contextual sensitivity, and a human-scaled urban response.

“Central to this approach is a layered and sculptural composition, where massing, materiality, and depth are strategically modulated to create a dynamic and visually legible built form. The architecture is defined by a clear hierarchical organisation: a robust, grounded podium provides a strong interface with the public realm, while lighter upper tiers recede into the skyline,” DKO said.

<img alt="Landmark" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d934b639-becc-4778-9756-979a2d6ef514" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-22%20at%2010.41.27%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Ss4AdKdVpjArekAiir2213cjcWrAgBJz" /> 
The open courtyard between the buildings

DKO also designed the Middle Harbour Road project, which is closer to the station. The nine-storey building is "structured to respect the surrounding context and provide a clear urban transition."

“The design aims to respond to both the low-scale residential development of the heritage overlay precinct and the highway development immediately to the south in the North Sydney CBD”.

The mix of units is intended to serve both general market demand and key worker housing, with affordable housing apartments integrated at the lower levels. The proposed building steps from six to nine storeys as it ascends from the rear to the street front, creating a layered form that mediates between the different scales of surrounding built form.

&nbsp;

<img alt="Lindfield" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e051aae5-0174-48b4-a033-823eb2a0e333" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-10-22%20at%2010.30.12%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=OqU2XRPU9vr6id0hddHlfHXODOI7s99z" /> 
The Middle Harbour Road site

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/landmark-group">Landmark Group</a> has&nbsp;delivered more than 4,000 homes across Australia, with a future pipeline worth $5 billion. Among their pipeline of projects is a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-landmark-group-tries-again-with-edgecliff-tower-plans">new mixed-use development near Edgecliff Station</a>.&nbsp;

They are also have live projects in Macquarie Park, Caringbah, and Dee Why.

Planning Alert

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News