First look: GPC and MPG team up for 254 new homes in Mill Park
Gibson Property Corporation (GPC) and McMillan Property Group (MPG) are advancing plans to deliver a large-scale mixed-use development in Mill Park, with a fresh planning application now lodged for land at 18 Bush Boulevard.
Occupying a vacant 1.378-hectare parcel within the Plenty Valley Activity Centre, the proposal outlines a new residential and commercial precinct comprising 254 apartments across two eight-storey buildings, alongside a six-storey standalone car park. The plan aims to build upon an earlier approval for a slightly smaller scheme, introducing greater density and a more robust offering of affordable housing options.
Designed by Ewert Leaf, the proposal is configured across three buildings that respond to the site’s irregular shape and prominent corner exposure to Bush Boulevard, Oleander Drive, and Wealthiland Drive. “Each building presents its own unique presentation and identity to the public realm,” according to the Town Planning Assessment by Planning & Property Partners.
The residential offering includes a mix of 110 one-bedroom, 125 two-bedroom, and 19 three-bedroom apartments, split between the two main buildings. A range of commercial uses is proposed across the ground floors, totalling over 5,000 sqm and encompassing shops, restricted retail, food and drink premises, and a medical centre. Each use is designed to activate the street level and contribute to the walkability of the emerging precinct.
A dedicated six-storey car parking building, Building C, will house 443 car spaces, a split of 273 resident bays and 153 publicly accessible spaces. 324 bike spaces and associated end-of-trip facilities also exceed planning requirements.
According to the assessment report, the design "seeks to engage with its abuttal to the public realm with an active commercial presentation at ground floor level,” with prominent use of glazing and warm, textured materials to add visual depth. Rooftop green spaces and communal areas are proposed for each building, enhancing amenity for residents and softening the urban form.
The project site sits within Sub-precinct 4B of the Plenty Valley Town Centre Structure Plan, designated the “Live and Work Precinct,” an area envisioned for integrated residential and commercial development with strong public transport links. The site is within walking distance of Westfield Plenty Valley and is already served by multiple bus routes and nearby rail access at South Morang Station.
The development builds upon an earlier approval which allowed for two buildings of up to seven storeys containing 175 dwellings, and a car park. The uplift in density is largely driven by the project’s affordable housing component, with 10 per cent of dwellings earmarked as affordable, a key eligibility criterion for streamlined assessment under Clause 53.23 of the Whittlesea Planning Scheme.
“The proposal responds to the State’s identified housing crisis and provides an opportunity to deliver affordable housing within the Plenty Valley Activity Centre," the planning report added.
