<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.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

Cedar Woods

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Demand for properties in Melbourne's south-east has created an apartment building boom among the city's 'sandbelt suburbs'.
Clayton South, Mentone, Moorabbin, Mordialloc and Oakleigh, in particular, are experiencing a surge in apartment buildings.
A report prepared by Urbis in August states that there are currently 25 developments within the area that will create 1,534 new apartments within the next three years.
Cedar Woods state manager, Patrick Archer, states that the growing demand in Clayton South and neighbouring sandbelt suburbs were key factors when choosing to create the company’s masterplanned Jackson Green community.
With apartment prices comparable to inner-city suburbs, sandbelt neighbourhoods are becoming increasingly popular for providing buyers with larger apartment sizes than their city counterparts.
Sales recently commenced at Cedar Woods' Jackson Green community for their Wattle Apartments.
The boutique apartments offer buyers the opportunity to purchase one bedroom one bathroom, two bedroom one bathroom and two bedroom two bathroom apartments ranging from 50-52 square metres, 73 square metres and 71 square metres to 75 square metres respectively.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Melbourne sandbelt booming as Cedar Woods' Jackson Green launches boutique Wattle apartments

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Located in Melbourne’s western suburbs, Williams Landing is a 275 hectare masterplanned community proposed to include approximately 3000 dwellings, integrated with the suburb’s newly upgraded railway station, amenities and town centre.

The area has been identified within the Plan Melbourne strategy as a key ‘activity centre,’ providing surrounding populations with retail and service amenity, as well commercial employment precincts. Its position as a transit-oriented development allows for convenient commuting to and from the city, helping to ease issues associated with rapid population growth in Melbourne’s west.

According to a report prepared by economists MacroPlan Dimasi, Williams Landing holds the potential to employ more than 23,000 people – the majority of these in white-collar fields – based on its strategic location within one of Australia’s fastest growing municipalities, the City of Wyndham.

Williams Landing developer Cedar Woods Properties has made creating the new employment cluster a priority in order to grow opportunities for local workers and businesses in Melbourne’s west and to assist in drawing congestion away from the CBD.

<blockquote>
In terms of its natural attributes, Williams Landing is particularly well-placed to pick up significant numbers of white-collar jobs. With significant quantities of commercial land identified within the Williams Landing master plan, there are unlikely to be constraints in regard to the availability of commercial land at Williams Landing.
<cite>MacroPlan Dimasi report</cite>
</blockquote>

The state government is supportive of this move, assigning Williams Landing as a designated ‘Priority Development Zone.’ This status allows for flexible planning and the creation of large scale commercial, retail and mixed-use developments without height limits – ideal for multi-storey office buildings.

<blockquote>
The creation of these jobs could reduce commute times for residents, many of whom currently travel outside of the Wyndham area for work, and make Wyndham a place for long term business. In order to establish more employment opportunities, Cedar Woods will continue to leverage Williams Landing’s natural attributes and foster residents’ sense of place.
<cite>Nathan Blackburne, Cedar Woods State Manager Victoria and Queensland</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/williams_landing_railway_station.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Williams Landing Railway Station. Source: Wikipedia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="295" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/williams_landing_railway_station.jpg?itok=UUSXtH9u" title="Williams Landing Railway Station. Source: Wikipedia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Williams Landing Railway Station. Source: Wikipedia</figcaption></figure>Urban.com.au sat down with Cedar Woods State Manager Victoria and Queensland Nathan Blackburne at the company's St Kilda Road office to discuss the developer's vision for Williams Landing as a key activity centre and commercial employment cluster.

“We first began developing Williams Landing seven years ago, envisioning the site as a masterplanned community with strong connections to state infrastructure,” Blackburne says.

“The site held huge potential with the train station, freeway interchange, community car park and bus terminal,” Blackburne says.

Working closely with the state government, Cedar Woods began planning the creation of a first class community alongside a major employment cluster to service Melbourne's west.

For Cedar Woods, getting the planning right and working with the state government on infrastructure was critical for developing Williams Landing, followed by providing supporting retail amenity.

Cedar Woods has already delivered stage one of the shopping centre with an expansion starting in February. Future stages are planned to o include a Big W store. Subsequent stages will also see the centre grow to become a sub regional centre.

Additionally, a number of medium-density projects are on the cards for Williams Landing, with the suburb’s first multi-residential project the Newton Apartments being released to the market recently. The new typology has seen strong sales already and demand from a range of buyer types with presales of 80 per cent achieved.

<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/newton_apartments_external2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Newton Apartments at Williams Landing. Image courtesy Cedar Woods"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/newton_apartments_external2.jpg?itok=bH4xaU7q" title="Newton Apartments at Williams Landing. Image courtesy Cedar Woods" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Newton Apartments at Williams Landing. Image courtesy Cedar Woods</figcaption></figure>With the residential component of Williams Landing now well advanced with three out of four neighbourhoods sold and under construction and the town centre well underway, attention is turning to the employment generating components of the project.

The 50 hectare town centre has the potential to accommodate a significant number of employment opportunities. According to Blackburne, many residents of the suburb also work in the area, making the development of a major employment cluster an attractive proposition. The cluster would reduce the number of residents currently undertaking long commutes to get to work, with purchasers seeing great value in being able to work and live in the one location.

Cedar Woods are working on several initiatives for the town centre such as a 50-room hotel (currently in planning/expression of interest phase to secure an operator), in addition to a strata office building (subject to approval). Demand is expected to be strong for the strata offices, filling a gap in the market for quality office spaces currently only offered in the CBD, Docklands and Southbank.

Blackburne notes that Melbourne's west can no longer be considered strictly blue collar, with an increasingly highly educated workforce working and living in the west. 46.5 per cent of adult residents within Williams Landing and Point Cook hold a university qualification, compared to 36.9 per cent of the overall Greater Melbourne region.

Economic research to investigate Williams Landing’s employment potential by Macroplan Dimasi found there is potential for 29,000 white-collar jobs to be created in Melbourne's west by 2031 under a low growth scenario. Of these jobs, it is estimated that Williams Landing will accommodate approximately 10,000 of those. Under a high growth scenario 60,000 white-collar jobs will be created under that same timeframe, with nearly 21,000 being located in Williams Landing – a major employment cluster by any means of the definition – and one which Cedar Woods has the capital and vision to deliver.

Blackburne points out that the planning controls for the site exclude height limits, which means the area can provide buildings as tall as the market demands as it evolves. Part of this sees the delivery of transitional buildings of a lower-density for the short to medium term, with Cedar Woods retaining ownership, before the development of higher density outcomes is justified.

Cedar Woods initial development pipeline will see Williams Landing mature over the next 10 to 15 years with any redevelopment of so-called 'transitional properties' to occur thereafter.
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Laurence Dragomir

Williams Landing and the boost to white-collar employment in the west

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As Williams Landing's first apartment development filters through to market, it signifies the grander intentions of the development team headed by Cedar Woods to provide the suburb with a genuine town centre. Abutting Williams Landing Railway Station, Newton Apartments is the first move toward higher density living within the suburb.

Cedar Woods' Patrick Archer and Mike Day of town planning firm Roberts Day were on hand to answer a number of questions regarding current developments, future intent and the fundamentals required to successfully bring a new higher density town centre to traditionally low density area.

<h2>Patrick Archer on Newton Apartments and a robust town centre</h2>

It came as a surprise to realise that Williams Landing has no height limits, with Patrick Archer explaining the Priority Development Zone is not subject to such restrictions. Not to say Williams Landing will host skyscrapers in the long term, but it does allow the development team greater flexibility to react to market demand.

And their vanguard apartment project comes in the form of a DKO Architecture-designed building containing 57 larger than average one and two bedroom apartments. Located on Overton Road, the project is an equivalent distance to Melbourne's CBD as is Box Hill or Doncaster, both of which are current apartment hot spots.

The larger than standard apartments have drawn interest from both investors and locals, with Patrick Archer explaining that home owners already living in Williams Landing have seen the project as an ideal investment. This is further solidified with local parents also seeking to purchase for their children at what will be a highly competitive pricing point.

Quizzed on future intentions for the remainder of Williams Landing, Partick Archer states that the town centre will be rolled out over the next decade and will be mixed-use in its nature. With the nearby Werribee East Employment Precinct in the wings and Wyndham's population growth one of the strongest in Australia, Williams Landing provides a unique opportunity for Cedar Woods to further entrench higher density outcomes in Melbourne's west.

<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/image3wl.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An overview of the Priority Development Zone. Image courtesy Cedar Woods"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image3wl.jpg?itok=wABL55Nq" title="An overview of the Priority Development Zone. Image courtesy Cedar Woods" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An overview of the Priority Development Zone. Image courtesy Cedar Woods</figcaption></figure><h2>Mike Day on the decline of suburbia and an inclusive approach</h2>

Underpinning a highly interesting chat with Mike Day is his belief that outer suburbs with little more than detached housing will continue to decline. Referencing Leigh Gallagher's 'The End of the Suburbs', Mike Day explains that contemporary property buyers want the inner-city lifestyle and urbanism regardless of where they are located; essentially they desire "urban 'burbs".

While many buyers for a number of socioeconomic reasons will head to middle and outer Melbourne locations, the inclusion of town centres within any given development is a tangible selling point.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/williams_landing_0231.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The prized jewel. Image courtesy tomroephotography.com"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="354" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/williams_landing_0231.jpg?itok=VltyCKW7" title="The prized jewel. Image courtesy tomroephotography.com" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The prized jewel. Image courtesy tomroephotography.com</figcaption></figure>Williams Landing was identified early as a worthwhile pursuit by Cedar Woods. A collaborative to planning the suburb included Cedar Woods, Roberts Day, Wyndham City Council, DKO Architecture and fellow project architect Hames Sharley, with the intent of roadmapping the future direction for the new suburb.

Fundamentals were identified and implemented with Williams Landing Railway Station delivered in addition to a shopping centre, freeway access, parkland and the provision for a future town centre. Mike Day nominated ease of transport and walkability as the key factors which gives Williams Landing an edge and an ability to build a neighbourhood unit rather thanmerely present as another nondescript suburb.

Asked if scalability was factored into the initial stages of placemaking Mike Day pointed out that if the fundamentals are addressed, the potentially explosive growth of Williams Landing via its new town centre will be accommodated easily enough. Further Mike Day insists that the future size of the town centre is essentially irrelevant; regardless of 5 levels or 50 the human scale and treatment is critical to Williams Landing's overall success.

With this in mind it will be interesting to follow the evolution of Williams Landing's town centre as it is progressively delivered, and what form it will take.
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silvermb

Placemaking for success in the city's west

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Kingston City Council recently gave formal approval for <a href="http://www.cedarwoods.com.au/">Cedar Woods’</a> <a href="http://www.jacksongreen.com.au/?gclid=CPz2zer2kMcCFReUvQodDEANVA">Jackson Green</a> urban renewal development in Clayton South, located 19 kilometres south-east of Melbourne’s CBD. The former industrial site is being redeveloped into parklands and a residential community located with frontages along Centre, Haughton and Main Roads in Clayton South. Demolition and site clearing works have been undertaken with a display suite now established on site. The project presents an excellent urban renewal opportunity of opening up Clayton South with infill development with strong connections to its locale.

<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/jackson_green_masterplan_edit.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Jackson Green Masterplan. © Cedar Woods"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="571" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/jackson_green_masterplan_edit.jpg?itok=EXxqQuQ-" title="Jackson Green Masterplan. © Cedar Woods" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Jackson Green Masterplan. © Cedar Woods</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
Jackson Green will embody all the ideals associated with life in the leafy south eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Jackson Green will enhance the everyday, and encourage you to make the most of each moment. A boutique community of contemporary homes and apartments, set around a beautiful central park that is poised to set a new standard for living in Clayton South.
<cite>Cedar Woods</cite>
</blockquote>

In late 2014, Cedar Woods submitted an application to transform the former industrial site for residential use, envisaging a boutique community with a minimum of 300 dwellings offering a choice of housing types,with the masterplan and architecture delivered by DKO Architecture who were also involved in Banbury Village for Cedar Woods.

<blockquote>
Jackson Green offers a superior community lifestyle and we anticipate significant market demand for this first class urban renewal project. The development includes a variety of housing options, ranging from one and two bedroom apartments, to townhouses and four bedroom houses. The estate’s proximity to Melbourne’s CBD, plus its high level of amenity and range of housing options, means that it will be highly sought after.

We’ve built the entire landscape concept around this beautiful tree that was one of the original features that have been retained on the site. Although the project hasn’t been released yet, web enquiry has been overwhelming, indicating a high degree of interest in the project.
<cite>Nathan Blackburne, State Manager, Cedar Woods</cite>
</blockquote>

The design of Jackson Green is intended to be contemporary in its architectural offering and is aimed at a relatively broad demographic, looking to cater for smaller households and the family market, to meet the needs of a growing population in the Clayton South area while providing an opportunity for younger families and first home buyers with an opportunity to enter the market within an established suburb. The development takes advantage of its location, with the site well serviced by existing infrastructure such as Monash University, Clayton Shopping Centre, two train stations at Clayton and Westall, major roads, cafes, hospitals, and with large open spaces, golf courses and parks all in close proximity.

The development is also positioned to benefit from the rebuilding of Clayton Station and removal of two level crossings as part of the Dandenong grade separation project along the Pakenham/Cranbourne train line, the addition of high capacity trains and significantly reduced travel times for people living in the south-eastern suburbs.

A significant portion of the Jackson Green site will be dedicated to a central park that will provide an impressive landscaped area comprising of a children’s playground, shelter structure and open space for both residents and the wider community to enjoy. The development takes its name from the large Port Jackson Fig tree, which is positioned at the entrance to the estate.

<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/gabrielsaunders_cedarwoods_jacksongreen_parkplaygroundb.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Jackson Green Park Playground. © Cedar Woods"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="410" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/gabrielsaunders_cedarwoods_jacksongreen_parkplaygroundb.jpg?itok=j27LgsXN" title="Jackson Green Park Playground. © Cedar Woods" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Jackson Green Park Playground. © Cedar Woods</figcaption></figure>Following further approvals, Cedar Woods will commence work on the site in late 2015, with first settlements planned for the end of 2016 and project completion in around 2020.

Cedar Woods has several significant Victorian projects in close proximity to train stations and upgrade transport infrastructure, developing a strong reputation for quality urban renewal outcomes including Williams Landing which features a proposed regional level town centre plus 2400 residential dwellings, the recently rezoned 6.8-hectare residential development in St Albans, and Banbury Village located adjacent to West Footscray train station.
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Cedar Woods receives approval for Jackson Green, Clayton South

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Away from the high profile yet dawdling urban renewal area that is Joseph Street Precinct, a raft of other Footscray infill development sites are in the process of finding new purpose. With infrastructure such as the new West Footscray Railway Station in place and located only a handful of kilometres from Melbourne's CBD, Footscray is proving to be a popular choice for both developers and residents alike.

One of the 'early adopters' was developer Cedar Woods who pounced upon a sizeable development site fronting Barkly Street, Footscray during 2006. Now known as Banbury Village, the final stage of the development consists of a ROTHELOWMAN-designed apartment complex dubbed Botanica Apartments.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3031]

After a mixture of housing types to date, Botancia Apartments represents Cedar Woods' foray into apartment living within Banbury Village. On the back of this I recently spoke with State Manager at Cedar Woods Properties, Nathan Blackburne, regarding Banbury Village and the ongoing role that the development firm plays in urban regeneration.

Laurence Dragomir: Describe the highlights that have made Banbury Village successful.

Nathan Blackburne: The Banbury Village project is a development comprising over 400 dwellings that occupies a 9ha site adjacent to the Whitten Oval and West Footscray Railway Station. The site was once home to the former Olympic Tyre factory which Cedar Woods purchased, rezoned, remediated and then submitted the planning application with council. We first acquired the site in 2006 and commenced development in 2008.

I think the project has been a great success in terms of providing a good example of what is possible with urban renewal on a large scale in inner Melbourne. It' showcases a contemporary architectural style, attractive streetscapes, a variety of housing typologies with the provision of a central park. The project has been met with strong demand and I think that's in part due to the quality of the design outcome that has been achieved.

Sales for the final stage Botanica Apartments have been strong. The project contains a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom apartments and presents the last opportunity to buy into the Banbury Village development.

LD: What was the main factor/drawcard for Cedar Woods getting involved with urban renewal in Footscray, and in particular this site?

NB: Cedar Woods from the outset had our eye on inner Melbourne sites that we felt were ripe for renewal. Footscray was yet to go through regeneration in any meaningful manner and we identified it as a suburb with firstly sites available for renewal, and secondly significant upside in pricing.

Banbury Village along with other developments in the area acted as a catalyst and a lot of families and professionals wanted to be close to the CBD. Hence buyers consider Footscray as a viable option when they realised that they could get a brand new home for a relatively affordable price.

<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/gs-cedarwoodsmd3-external_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Botanica Apartments at Banbury Village. Image courtesy Cedar Woods"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="156" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/gs-cedarwoodsmd3-external_11.jpg?itok=MdIKWPbT" title="Botanica Apartments at Banbury Village. Image courtesy Cedar Woods" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Botanica Apartments at Banbury Village. Image courtesy Cedar Woods</figcaption></figure>LD: So were they essentially your target market for Banbury Village?

NB: The variety of product means that there was a variety of household structures that were attracted to the project so we have had a mix of singles, couples and young families with probably a greater focus on the family category. This is fairly representative of our expectations and I should say that the project's proximity to the university has attracted a lot of younger people as well.

It was the mix of potential buyer types that made this project attractive for us in the first place.

LD: You touched on the architecture briefly. Is there any particular reason for engaging ROTHELOWMAN for the next stage, Botanica Apartments?

NB: I should mention that dKO were the architects responsible for the majority of the Banbury Village development and ROTHELOWMAN who are well regarded architects have designed the main building and the centrepiece of the development in Botanica Apartments. We wanted to ensure from the beginning that we achieved a quality design outcome that fit in well with the earlier developments and so we chose ROTHELOWMAN because of their reputation within the industry for medium-density apartment developments in inner Melbourne.

We have previously worked with RL on other integrated housing developments and their work for us has been exceptional.

LD: Is there scope for similar projects for Cedar Woods in the future? What's the next project post Banbury?

NB: We see a lot of opportunity for urban renewal projects in Melbourne, in both the inner and middle ring suburbs. In the last couple of years Cedar Woods has acquired two major sites that will deliver similar projects to what has been delivered at Banbury Village.

Firstly we acquired 6.8ha in St Albans next to the train station which the State Government has announced will be subject to approximately $200m in grade separation works and a new station. The project will have a similar mix of houses, townhouses and apartments and that capitalises on the proximity to the redeveloped train station and the retail centre of St Albans.

The St Albans development will be known as St A and will have a very similar impact on St Albans in the same way that Banbury Village has had on its surrounds. St A will seek to deliver a contemporary housing form with some central parkland and all within a few hundred metres of the proposed new station.

We then have the Jackson Green development in Clayton South which is a 6.5ha site that we recently settled on and will accommodate over 250 dwellings which again will comprise a mix of houses, townhouses and apartments. It's the site of the former Sigma Pharmaceuticals adjacent to the Centre and Carinish Road level crossing. It's one of the bigger sites in the area and we're excessively happy to have purchased it.

A part of our Victorian strategy is to acquire inner and middle suburban sites in Melbourne and we're pleased that we have four projects in the portfolio that fit that profile.

<h2>Large Footscray infill sites see movement</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/merchant-square_image001.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Kavellaris Urban Design's scheme for Kinnears . Image courtesy KUD"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/merchant-square_image001.jpg?itok=lPtjpn56" title="Kavellaris Urban Design's scheme for Kinnears . Image courtesy KUD" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Kavellaris Urban Design's scheme for Kinnears . Image courtesy KUD</figcaption></figure>In addition to Banbury Village, The Kinnears site fronting Ballarat Road is also due for development after being dormant for years. Now owned by Guangzhou-based R&amp;F Properties, the four hectare site joins another of the developers land holdings in Fishermans Bend, both of which are capable of housing thousands of people when realised.

Incidentally Kavellaris Urban Design are carrying a suite of renders for a redeveloped Kinnears on their website, one of which is seen above. Whether this is mere coincidence or a precursor to a planning application remains to be seen.

<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/1257-974-1412901261.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Victoria University Student Accommodation. Image courtesy ADCO"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="293" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/1257-974-1412901261.jpg?itok=VFYwSCts" title="Victoria University Student Accommodation. Image courtesy ADCO" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Victoria University Student Accommodation. Image courtesy ADCO</figcaption></figure>The other current project of note consumes a fraction of what is a sprawling at-grade gravel car park opposite Victoria University's Ballarat Road campus. Valued at $47 million, the 12 level student accommodation project is currently under construction with ADCO building the project.

Containing 504 beds, the project is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2016 academic year.
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