Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Commercial Development

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A crystalline commercial building fit for the new knowledge economy is set for Melbourne's Cremorne.
ICON Developments and architects Wood Marsh have gained development approval for the eight-level office building.
It comes with ground-floor retail, on a prime site on the corner of Balmain and Church streets.
Providing for 5,264 square metres of office space and 535 square metres of retail space as well as a rooftop terrace, the light-filled design takes its inspiration from the facets of a cut diamond or shattered ice, explains Wood Marsh director Roger Wood.
“The new business paradigm is one of transparency and shining light onto thinking and ideas. That’s what our design reflects. We were interested not only in the way light refracts through cut stones such as diamond but also in the strength of diamond, and that’s how we developed the facade.”
“What we’ve tried to do is craft the building with set-backs incrementally folding away from the street so it looks like a sculpted object. It has the muscularity of an industrial building but it also has the translucency of a cut diamond.”
The new building’s 600 Church Street site, previously occupied by the low rise Nuttelex warehouse, is a major landmark when coming towards the suburb from the Yarra River, and, according to Wood, deserved an architectural response of distinction.
It will be double glazed, reflective and highly rated for energy conservation.
The building’s other amenities include a rooftop garden so that people working in the building can have lunch in the open or socialise after work.
That rooftop level was recently a matter for the Victorian Civil and Appeals Tribunal, which overturned the City of Yarra’s modifications and approved Wood Marsh’s original design. For Wood, the VCAT decision sets an encouraging design precedent.
“VCAT recognised the architectural quality of the building. In an unprecedented move, the tribunal adjourned early and effectively ruled that the design deserved to go ahead without being tampered with,” Wood explains.
“It’s important to note that our appeal really was about the design: it’s not like we were trying to double the height of the building. Hopefully council sees that as a positive result and that if they get good quality architecture being brought forward then it should be supported.
“There are a lot of good architects in Melbourne and I think the outcome is encouraging for good quality architecture not just in Cremorne but throughout Melbourne.”
Developer ICON has been based in Cremorne for almost 20 years. Chief executive Ashley Murdoch says the new building will be a worthy addition to a suburb on the rise.
“As a hub for tech-focused companies and those in the creative industries, Cremorne needs more of the kind of thoughtfully designed commercial space we are putting forward here. Wood Marsh’s design is highly innovative and shows great integrity in the way it contrasts a contemporary response with the area’s industrial heritage,” Murdoch says.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Architecturally-designed crystalline building approved in industrial Cremorne, Melbourne

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A property play between Charter Hall and Investa that began mid last year with the intentions of delivering a major office tower to Brisbane's CBD reached a milestone last week.

The development partnership announced that the planning approvals process for a Blight Rayner-designed commercial tower at 360-380 Queen Street has begun. During June 2017 the duo outlaid $53.75 million for three adjoining office buildings across a 2,147 square metre site for the purposes of a commercial office development.

The result is a 41 storey skyscraper that will reach 205 metres above ground, potentially becoming one of Brisbane's tallest towers.

360-380 Queen Street is located in Brisbane's ‘Golden Triangle’ which home to a high concentration of financial institutions. Valued at $650 million, the co-owners hope to add further to the precinct with 50,000 square metres of A-Grade office space slated for the development.

<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/image122_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Hero perspective. Planning image: Blight Rayner"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="873" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image122_2.jpg?itok=MYzJGV6K" title="Hero perspective. Planning image: Blight Rayner" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Hero perspective. Planning image: Blight Rayner</figcaption></figure>The intended development will see a reworked ground plane, resulting in a highly permeable and accessible structure.

A new public pedestrian thoroughfare will link Queen Street to Giffin Lane and Ely Lane, and is set to be lined by retail tenancies. Additionally, an amphitheatre, supermarket, childcare centre, outdoor cinema and various other entertainment/dining options will assist in drawing the public to the area.

A vertical green wall will mask the adjoining property boundary, whilst a 'suspended' green zone will feature mid podium. Thereafter three separate green spaces will break the tower's form at levels 13, 28 and 40, in addition to a vertical chasm that will add extra greenery externally. 

All in all the tower is aiming to achieve a 5 Star Green Star Design rating, 5 Star NABERS Energy rating, plus WELL Core and Shell Gold certification.

<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/image124.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Central viod doubles as a design feature. Planning image: Blight Rayner"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="334" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image124.jpg?itok=DbffAxrG" title="Central viod doubles as a design feature. Planning image: Blight Rayner" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Central viod doubles as a design feature. Planning image: Blight Rayner</figcaption></figure><h2>What they say</h2>

<blockquote>
CPOF Fund Manager, Matthew Brown said: “This is a very exciting investment opportunity for both Charter Hall and Investa.

The joint venture development and ownership structure with ICPF diversifies risk with a credible institutional counter party and provides certainty of delivery.

Our combined office experience and expertise, will see us create a new generation, high quality building designed to support tenant customers’ requirements for collaborative workplaces, higher density and flexible occupancy along with the latest technology.
<cite>Matthew Brown: CPOF Fund Manager</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
The 370 Queen Street development strongly supports ICPF’s ‘build to core’ strategy and reflects our commitment to investing in high quality, new office developments that deliver diversification for ICPF’s office portfolio.

A commitment of this scale also reflects our confidence in the underlying strength of the Brisbane CBD office market and we’re very pleased to reach this important DA milestone.
<cite>Jason Leong: ICPF Fund Manager</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
Our in-house development team will deliver an office building of a standard not yet offered in the Brisbane market.

Targeting the highest level of sustainable design and building performance, it will provide extensive recreational and landscaped areas at podium level and throughout the tower, with higher density and technology enabled workplaces providing greater connectivity and flexibility for the future tenants of this progressive, new workplace community.
<cite>Andrew Borger: Charter Hall’s Head of Office Development</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/image123_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Ground floor activation. Planning image: Blight Rayner"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="311" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image123_0.jpg?itok=XicQuVxt" title="Ground floor activation. Planning image: Blight Rayner" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Ground floor activation. Planning image: Blight Rayner</figcaption></figure>According to the development partnership, construction is expected to commence in the first half of 2019, although overall approval and tenant pre-commitments are first required.
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silvermb

Investa and Charter Hall eye Brisbane's Queen Street for a new commercial skyscraper

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Zurich Australian Property Holding Pty Ltd has taken its proposed commercial tower on Mount Street, North Sydney back to planning.

Part of Zurich Financial Services Australia, the property offshoot lodged the latest version of its 29 storey tower last week. The refined proposal has seen the expected cost of the development rise to $118 million, above the figure of $103 million which was associated with the initial application which landed with North Sydney Council early last year.

Architects Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp were successful in winning the 118 Mount Street's design competition, eventually conceiving a curving edifice that spans the best part of 110 metres in height.

It's unclear if the latest iteration of the design has wavered substantially from the circulated render of the 29 storey tower below.

<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_21.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="118 Mount Street. Image: FJMT"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="817" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image11_21.jpg?itok=nlcW-boI" title="118 Mount Street. Image: FJMT" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>118 Mount Street. Image: FJMT</figcaption></figure><a href="http://www.afr.com/real-estate/zurich-insurance-to-go-alone-in-250-million-north-sydney-headquarters-20170718-gxdd2p">According to the AFR</a>, Zurich is intending to account for an amount of space in the new tower, with the balance to be leased out.

Zurich's initial application found approval during July 2017 and included end of trip facilities plus a green rooftop terrace, albeit at a lower height of 23 storeys; in line with initial expectations, the tower looks to have been bumped back up to 29 storeys according to the latest submission.

The current yet dated Mount Street office block that is set to be replaced includes 5 levels of commercial space above a ground floor retail tenancy. In addition to 118 Mount Street, Zurich also owns a substantial land holding at 5 Blue Street nearby. 

<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_22.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A 2017 render of the tower's ground level exterior. Image: FJMT"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="346" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image13_22.jpg?itok=8b_V7H3J" title="A 2017 render of the tower's ground level exterior. Image: FJMT" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A 2017 render of the tower's ground level exterior. Image: FJMT</figcaption></figure>Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp's approved 2017 scheme for 118 Mount Street is a continuation of their successful commercial design logic which has seen a string of projects share similar design traits.

In Sydney, the architecture practice is behind the completed Darling Quarter and 200 George Street commercial projects, with the latter skyscraper completed during 2016. 200 George is one of Australia's most environmentally advanced and sustainable buildings, receiving Australia’s first Gold WELL-certification for its tenancy during 2017, in addition to a 6 Green Star As-Built rating.

In Melbourne, Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp are behind a current mid-rise commercial application at 200-202 Victoria Parade in East Melbourne.

It includes a Net Leasable Area of 27,435 square metres, end of trip facilities plus outdoor terraces, and is backed by 200 Victoria Parade Development Pty Ltd.

<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/image17_20.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Selected FJMT commercial projects. Images: Commercial RE, Time and Place, FJMT"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="394" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image17_20.jpg?itok=nsa32JuG" title="Selected FJMT commercial projects. Images: Commercial RE, Time and Place, FJMT" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Selected FJMT commercial projects. Images: Commercial RE, Time and Place, FJMT</figcaption></figure>Lead image: Jagonal
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Zurich Australia's renewed push to develop its North Sydney headquarters

Laurence Dragomir

Is 2018 the year of commercial for the Melbourne market? 

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A freshly advertised planning application with City of Yarra has shown K7 <a href="/developments/collingwood-vic-3066">Developments </a>to be the purchaser last year of an already approved development site at 288-296 Johnston Street.

Rather than proceed with the previous Cox Architecture-designed scheme, K7 Developments have reworked the project, effectively looking to double the apartment yield. Plus Architecture have been engaged to deliver the new design.

The project is diagonally opposite Pace of Abbotsford which may well act as a height precedent for 288-296 Johnston Street; both projects are at 12 levels.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/untitled.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Plus Architecture's new take on Johnston Street"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="444" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/untitled.jpg?itok=161lTu25" title="Plus Architecture's new take on Johnston Street" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Plus Architecture's new take on Johnston Street</figcaption></figure>In getting to 12 levels from the previously approved 8, K7 Developments are hoping to bump apartment numbers from the approved 44 to 87. The prospective apartment mix is broken down as 23 single bedroom apartments, 62 dual bedroom and 2 triple bedroom apartments.

The dwellings would sit above a 214 square metre cafe and dual retail tenancies amounting to 374 square metres.

A triple level basement holds 87 car parking spaces and capacity for 101 bicycles. Vehicle access to the intended project is via Little Turner Street at the rear of the property.

<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/image63_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Cox Architecture's initial Johnston Street design"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="366" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image63_5.jpg?itok=Ph_JaoS5" title="Cox Architecture's initial Johnston Street design" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Cox Architecture's initial Johnston Street design</figcaption></figure>The Abbotsford property has been in a state of flux for many years from a development perspective, with a planning history spanning seven years. Last year the Cox Architecture approved scheme across the 1,182 square metre site wes offered for sale by CBRE.

Meanwhile, another commercial project has been earmarked for Collingwood.

Plans are on display for a new part four, part seven storey building at 61-75 Langridge Street. Designed by Preston Lane for Domain Hill Property Group, the Langridge Street proposal includes 4,900 plus square metres of office floor space above retail and commercial tenancies.

<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/doma9764_langridge-st-planning.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Langridge Street. Image: Preston Lane"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="342" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/doma9764_langridge-st-planning.jpg?itok=w9Tu_OJu" title="Langridge Street. Image: Preston Lane" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Langridge Street. Image: Preston Lane</figcaption></figure>Preston Lane imagery shows an open floor format and industrial finishes within the building.

The proposed Langridge street complex backs on to 2-16 Northumberland Street which has begun construction. Grocon have the job of delivering the 15,000 square metre build for tenants The Commons and Aesop.

The Langridge and Northumberland projects are joined by three additional current Collingwood office projects which between them are seeking to add approximately 40,000 square metres of new office space to the suburb.
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K7 Developments moves on Abbotsford; Collingwood eyes another commercial development

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Sydney’s Bayside Council has launched a public campaign through Savills Australia to solve the parking squeeze in Brighton Le Sands.
Any property-based solution may or may not incorporate the existing council carpark at 1–7 The Boulevarde, according to Savills.
Accordingly, industry players are being sought for a shortlisting process for a Request for Proposals (RFP) process in late 2017 or early 2018.
The Rockdale City Council (now Bayside Council) commissioned a Brighton Le Sands Parking Strategy report in June 2014 as the first stage of the Brighton Le Sands Masterplan.
The report identified a shortfall of 211 car parking spaces in the Brighton Le Sands core area.
The council-owned Boulevarde car park in Brighton Le Sands was identified in the implementation plan as a Council asset that could be upgraded and considered a car parking solution in the town centre.
The 2,186 sqm site at 1–7 The Boulevarde currently provides a total of 250 car parking spaces, SP3 Tourist Zoning with permissible FSR of 3:1 and height of 28 metres and is located in the heart of Brighton Le Sands’ vibrant entertaining village precinct.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/10/13/Brighton2.jpg" alt=""> 
Surrounding zoning is a mix of B4 and R4, high density mixed use and residential, 28 to 51 metre height and permissible FSR ranging between 3:1 and 4:1.
There are a total of 2,595 car parking spaces within Brighton Le Sands, including a number of clearway parking spaces on The Grand Parade. Of these, 2,168 car spaces are located on-street and 427 spaces are located off-street within the Cole’s car park and The Boulevard car parking station. 
In addition, some 336 spaces are provided within the privately operated car park associated with the Novatel development located on the northwest corner of The Grand Parade/ Bay Street intersection.
 
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Sydney’s Bayside council seeks to expand car park to meet shortfall: Savills

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Middle-East based HLG Contracting, in which CIMIC group has a 45 percent investment, said it had won a contract for a development project in Dubai with revenue of $224 million.
The contract involves construction of expo village parcels 10 and 11 residential towers by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the ASX release said.
HLG said it will be responsible for the construction of five16‐storey towers. 
Three of the towers would be connected through a mutual three‐storey podium, while the other two towers would also be co‐joined through a shared three‐storey podium. 
Works include the concrete frames, masonry, facades, fit‐out, external works, and provisional sums for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing, wardrobes, kitchen, timber doors, lifts and façade cleaning system. 
The development has a total built‐up area of 155,000 sqm. 
Construction is expected to begin in July 2017, and is due to be completed by June 2019 ahead of Expo 2020 Dubai, which opens in October 2020. 
ASX-listed CIMIC is headquartered in Sydney and is the world’s largest contract miner.
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CIMIC-backed HLG Contracting wins $224 million Dubai construction project 

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Development of Lendlease's second commercial tower at their Melbourne Quarter development has been given the green light by Planning Minister Richard Wynne.
The development at 693 Collins Street will be 28 levels high and feature 55,000sqm of office space and around 2,500sqm of retail space.
Construction of the first building, One Melbourne Quarter has begun.
Mark Menhinnitt, Lendlease managing director, Urban Regeneration, said he has seen a commercial shift towards this part of Collins Street at the heart of the Southern Cross precinct.
“Melbourne Quarter aims to set leading standards in environmentally sensitive and sustainable development, and aspires to be Melbourne’s greenest city precinct," he said.
“The hero of the new precinct, the skypark, will complement Melbourne Quarter’s leading workplace design, offering workers the ability to re-charge or work outside the office, enhancing their health and wellbeing. This is a key trend in global workplace design.
“In addition to the skypark, a new public square on Collins Street will be at the heart of the precinct. Surrounded by cafes, bars and restaurants, this will blur the lines between workplaces and retail to create vibrant green spaces that maximise business efficiency.
“The precinct boasts a strong environmental focus, with more than half of the site dedicated to public open space and a 99 per cent walkability rating to facilitate greener, healthier workplaces.
Melbourne Quarter Tower is one of seven commercial and residential buildings planned for the neighbourhood.
For further information, visit <a href="https://www.melbournequarter.com" target="_blank">www.melbournequarter.com </a>
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Green light for Lendlease's second Melbourne Quarter commercial tower 

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With its new head office in Sydney's Rhodes Corporate Park, Frasers Property Australia wanted to make a statement about its innovation and excellence, says a new video which Frasers portrays as a case study of its general approach to development.
The office was awarded 6 Star Green Star business park facilities, from the Green Building Council of Australia and is a good example of the future of workspaces.
In the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mI4b8-RrC5w" target="_blank">YouTube video</a>, Reini Otter, executive general manager at Frasers Property, says the vision was a workplace that reflected “not only the culture of our business, but also the aspirations of the business for the next decade”.
As Reini says in the video, “we are in a 15-year-old fit out, ad hoc design, lacking in many ways”.
The new building’s design revolves around a “central hub”, with meeting rooms dispersed around the office. Reini says “there’s no offices either”, so everybody is “open plan”. There are several standing workstations, a cafe area, and a lounge, which is mostly designed for informal meetings. Also, quiet spaces called “booth”, which offers more privacy for concentrated work.
Reini, who is an architect, says the building not only achieves a “technical outcome” of better IT infrastructure and office organisation, but it is also an “embodiment of the culture of the Frasers business”.
The office is designed to promote more collaboration among employees to encourage innovation, says Reini.
“So this project is a good case study in how we approach all our developments.”
The video says “it’s not just about providing a workspace that improves efficiencies, it’s about improving the health and wellbeing of people that work there”.
Frasers Property Australia was formerly Australand, which was acquired by Frasers Centrepoint Limited in late 2014. The parent group is listed in Singapore and focuses on Australia and China with total assets of more than S$23 billion.
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Frasers' new office a case study in its approach to development

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Hotel owner and operator InterContinental Hotels Group and Linzhu (Australia) Pty Ltd have signed an agreement to open a new Holiday Inn brand hotel in the Sydney CBD by 2020.
The Holiday Inn Sydney Central at the 430 Pitt Street development will comprise 305 rooms, a restaurant, terrace bar and a 120-seat meeting space, according to a media release.
The hotel will be part of a mixed-use development that will have a 17-storey tower with a sloping roof, “green waterfalls”, a 1,000 sqm private art gallery and a retail concourse.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/03/09/Holiday%20Inn%20Sydney%20Central%203.jpg" alt="">
 
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/03/09/Holiday%20Inn%20Sydney%20Central.jpg" alt="">
“The property will be a jewel in the Sydney CBD landscape with its unique wedge-shaped design and green flowing rooftops,” said Jing Wen Lin, director at property firm Linzhu.
Karin Sheppard, chief operating officer at IHG added, “The Holiday Inn brand has been a story of success for IHG in Australia, so we are excited to be building on our portfolio that already includes six Holiday Inn hotels in Sydney.”
The first Holiday Inn globally opened its doors in 1952 and today the Holiday Inn Brand Family is the largest hotel brand in the world, with the largest development pipeline, said the media release.
The first property in Australasia was the Holiday Inn City Centre Perth, which opened on March 2, 1998.
IHG currently has 26 hotels operating under four brands in Australia: InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express.
 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/09/IHG%20%20Linzhu%20Signing%201.JPG" alt="">
 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/03/09/IHG%20%20Linzhu%20Signing%202.JPG" alt="">
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