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

Development

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<h4> </h4>
GUEST OBSERVER
The internet has reached our cities. A smart city is optimised for efficiency, productivity and comfort.
The smart city uses intelligent transport systems. It is administered by integrated urban command centres, which analyse the omnipresent raw material of the digital era: big data. As citizens go about their everyday lives, they leave data traces everywhere, even in the sewers.
Many technology companies and city governments celebrate the new enfant terrible of smart city research: the urban scientist who finally imposes a rigorous scientific (that is, positivistic) mindset on city governance. However, Jeremy Kun confirms that:
… being quantitative doesn’t protect against bias.
Commentators such as Cat Matson, Charles Landry and Paul Masonadvocate a people-centred approach to city design. In our own work, we warn that ignoring decades of research by architects, geographers, urban planners, designers and sociologists could lead to a dystopian future where humans lose agency if we mindlessly pursue convenience and efficiency.   Big data requires analysis by algorithms, and they in turn create filter bubbles. Corporations such as Facebook and Google deploy sophisticated algorithms to help us navigate the otherwise bloated social mediascape. The content displayed on Facebook’s news feed is selected based on a user’s profile, location, interests, online habits – what they post, share, recommend and “like”.
The popularity of social media stems from its power to create personalised spaces, walled gardens, which are tailored to individual preferences and favour content relevant to each user. Proprietary algorithms determine what is deemed relevant.
Without ethics, it is these algorithms that determine the make-up of the Facebook news feed, Google’s top search results and the recommendations on whom to follow on Twitter and what to buy on Amazon. They are optimised to prioritise content that generates more business. As Gilad Lotan has observed:
We’re not seeing different viewpoints, but rather more of the same. A healthy democracy is contingent on having a healthy media ecosystem. As builders of these online networked spaces, how do we make sure we are optimising not only for traffic and engagement, but also an informed public? … The underlying algorithmics powering this recommendation engine help reinforce our values and bake more of the same voices into our information streams.
The diversity advantage of cities
As more and more social media platforms embrace urban environments as their playground, this algorithmic culture has important implications for cities. People come together in cities not just for the infrastructure and convenience they provide, but for offering choice. Cities are fundamentally about possibilities, opportunities and diversity.
Jane Jacobs notes: Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.
Ethan Zuckerman thinks of cities as serendipity engines:
By putting a diverse set of people and things together in a confined place, we increase the chances that we’re going to stumble onto the unexpected.
However, Zuckerman also asks:
… do cities actually work this way?
It’s a timely question for smart cities governed by big data and algorithmic analysis. How can a smart city become a serendipity engine? Can we design smart cities for getting lost?
Here are some examples of why that may not be such a bad idea.
Getting lost and getting to know strangers
Public transport journey planners are usually optimised for two factors: the fastest speed and shortest distance to get you from A to B. Yet there are opportunities beyond telematics.
Why don’t we offer the choice to go slow, to take the least polluted route to work, or the scenic way home?
Experimental prototypes such as Martin Traunmueller’s Likeways and Mark Shepard’s Serendipitor allow you to lose yourself and rediscover your city. The Likeways app lets users choose routes that wander past restaurants, pubs, shops, museums or art galleries. Screenshot, courtesy Martin Traunmueller   In addition to a diversity of places, cities also offer a diversity of people. However, all too often we stay within our existing social networks of friendship and convenience. Eric Paulos’s Familiar Stranger Project investigated anxiety, comfort and play in public places.
Yet our ability to unlock the advantage of a city’s social diversity is still in its infancy. Early examples include co-working spaces and meet-up groups that bring diverse people together, airlines offering social seating, and design interventions such as Jokebox that foster playfulness and curiosity. 
Saskia Sassen warns that the privatisation of public spaces in the city:
… has deep and significant implications for equity, democracy and rights.
This also stifles innovation, as people are lacking the kinds of “skunkworks” that foster creativity and diversity.
Deliberative democracy and the city
Besides the nascent opportunities vested in people and places, what may well be the final frontier of a truly smart (as in intelligent) city is content and discourse. Seeking to burst the filter bubbles, Eli Pariser created Upworthy:
… on a mission to change what the world pays attention to.
It curates news you should read rather than just “the news you want” to read.
Another illustrative example is Rebecca Ross’s project London is Changing. Large digital displays visualise local community voices and juxtapose diverse opinions about the impact of gentrification in London.
To uphold a citizen’s right to the digital city and strengthen the role of cities in a deliberative democracy, cities should empower citizens to be smart. Smart cities should allow us to get lost and find new places, to meet strangers who may become new friends, and to engage in discussions with diverse others so we may form new opinions.
Alexandros Washburn observes:
In talking about the anticipational Smart wonders of ‘our city’, we really mean ‘my city’. We confuse the collective with the personal. If collective, that is, civic intelligence is what makes cities smart, we need more serendipity engines. 
Smart cities should be open and agile and employ what Bob Dick calls “dialectical processes” and what Anna Cox calls “design friction”. That way we may change algorithmic filters for the sagacious discovery of diversity in the city. Diversity fuels innovation, and innovation is what we need to be sustainable.
Marcus Foth is professor, urban informatics, Queensland University of Technology and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marcus-foth-199317" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Why we should design smart cities for getting lost

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The Living Future Institute of Australia (LFIA) has launched the Brickworks Living Building Challenge design competition, pressing the go button for designers, built environment professionals and students around the world to conceptualise what the world's most sustainable retail centre ought look like.
The Living Building Challenge is an international sustainable building certification program, advocacy tool and philosophy.
The Brickworks Living Building Challenge design competition, run by the Living Future Institute of Australia with principal partner Frasers Property Australia, aims to explore the boundaries of sustainable design within the retail environment and redefine ‘best practice’ for the sector.
It is the world's most aspirational and rigorous green building performance standard. The Challenge is comprised of seven performance categories called Petals: Place, Water, Energy, Health &amp; Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty.
The Living Building Challenge (LBC) has never before had a retail centre as its centrepiece, nor has an Australian project been subject to such a design competition before. 
The Living Building challenge boldly aspires to regenerative development, not simply sustainable development, and can be applied to almost every conceivable building project, or any scale and location.
For more information, download our eBook <a href="/images/2016/green_leadership/Australia_aspires_to_global_green_leadership.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Australia aspires to global green leadership: The Living Building Challenge

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Gosford on the NSW Central Coast is firmly on the investor map, with the city council attracting more than $1 billion worth of potential development to its city centre since mid-2014, according to Raine &amp; Horne.
Since mid-2014, the council has received $1.01 billion worth of development applications for the city centre alone.
Raine &amp; Horne Commercial principal Brett Hunter predicts the Central Coast’s next property boom will be led by its commercial market.
“We’ve seen plenty of commercial space sitting idle for a while now, however, the worm is turning and improved business confidence is driving more leasing and buying enquiries,” said Brett.
“We’re seeing plenty of new developers who are buying greenfield sites on the Central Coast. The plan is to develop them, market them and make a profit.”
He said the reinvigoration of Gosford remained a vital cog in the development of the region’s commercial credentials.
“The ATO is relocating to Gosford, but we still need more high-rise residential blocks similar to say St Leonards, along with the development of the waterfront on Brisbane Water, which has the potential to be the equivalent of Rushcutters Bay in Sydney,” he said.
“A strong nautical industry would be very good business for the Central Coast, what with regattas, the building and trade of yachts and so on.”
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Money pouring into NSW's Gosford: Raine & Horne

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Construction company Sekisui House announced that it has received development approval at their $750 million ‘The Hermitage’ in Sydney's Gledswood Hills for a nine-hole Par 3 golf course and driving range, the first of its kind in Australia to be created by golf legend Greg Norman.
The $11 million golf course to Sydney’s south-west is a collaboration between Sekisui House, Greg Norman Golf Course Design and club operator, Wests Campbelltown. 
<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/2016/04/8/700_golf.jpg" alt="" width="563" height="296">
Stretching over 1,365 metres, with an average distance of 152 metres for each hole, the golf course will also include a commercial driving range and practice facilities. 
Construction is expected to start in mid-2016, with a public opening earmarked for early 2018.
Greg Norman Golf Course Design was established in 1987 and is considered a leading signature golf course design firm. It has opened more than 90 courses globally.
“The Hermitage estate is the idyllic location to showcase my unique and wholly sustainable golf course designs while providing award-winning facilities for the residents and the local community. I have a deep-rooted passion for continuing to develop and support the game of golf in Australia,” Norman said in a statement.
Since its launch of The Hermitage in 2012, Sekisui House has sold more than 870 lots.
<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/2016/04/8/700_norman.jpg" alt="" width="581" height="353">
The Hermitage will feature 35 hectares of open green space and established trees (the equivalent of nearly 80 football pitches), 10 distinct park locations, two golf courses including an 18 and 9 hole golf course set over 120 hectares, a new public primary school accommodating up to 1,000 pupils and the future ‘Gledswood Village’ that will include amenities including groceries, cafes, health care, a country club and restaurants.
The Hermitage is about 55 km from Sydney’s CBD and 35 km from Parramatta. It will have a projected population of over 6,000 people living within 2,000 homes and completion is expected in 2022.
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Sekisui House gets nod for Australia's first Greg Norman nine-hole course

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GUEST OBSERVER
Landmarks identify and define cities. Town-planning instruments usually protect these landmarks from development that does not respect the setting.
But inappropriate development is placing one of Brisbane’s most important landmarks in danger. A proposed 47-storey tower threatens Customs House, on Queen Street, from being seen as it was intended to be.
Such developments are neither a new problem nor unique to Brisbane. The “Toaster” apartment building has compromised the view of the Sydney Opera House. In Melbourne, the proposed shards of Federation Square threatened the view of St Paul’s Cathedral from St Kilda Road at Princes Bridge. The impacts of both of these actions were very much an afterthought.
In London, it was realised as the Shard Tower was being constructed that it would affect the view of St Paul’s Cathedral. Lord Mayor Boris Johnson thus moved to protect views of the cathedral from specific vantage points with a clear viewshed diagram to ensure the dome can still be seen from identified locations. This demonstrates how best to pre-empt what may happen in the future, prevent unsuitable outcomes and protect views of landmarks.
<h2>The Customs House case study</h2>
Brisbane’s city plan has prescribed a heritage precinct around Customs House and the adjoining land to the north to ensure views of it are protected.
However, the Brisbane City Council late last year approved the tower, which is to be built immediately to the north of Customs House. This proposed building is to replace a four-storey block that was already too large.
By approving this development, the council has ignored its own regulations. These were put in place to protect not only views of Customs House from the northern end, but also to allow views across the site to the Brisbane River and the Story Bridge from Queen Street in the other direction.
The design of Customs House, completed in 1889, was unusually accomplished. It responded to its particular site at the bend in Queen Street, which is the closest point to the river.
Views of the building from various points in the city and river are possible and intended. The most important view, however, is of the northern end, from Queen Street and the open space to the north.
 The building has a dome placed over its Long Room, positioned eccentrically at one end. This was intentional and informed by Customs House’s setting: the oblique views made it difficult to determine that the dome was not central.
In this way, the building is quite different to other landmarks, such as the General Post Office, where the main view to be protected is the front elevation, seen perpendicular to Queen Street. The city plan should include a diagram of the protected viewshed for each landmark in the city to prevent unsuitable developments that could have a detrimental impact on a landmark’s setting.
It is common practice to protect a landmark’s principal view. For Customs House, however, this is not the street elevation or the river elevation, but the various oblique views from further away, particularly the northern end with its semi-circular projection.
Although Customs House occupies part of a heritage precinct, no specific viewshed diagram has been made that would be able to prevent the current proposal. Nevertheless, that a precinct had been identified for Customs House and its adjoining lands should have been enough to protect it.
The existing building to the north, built in 1987 before the Queensland Heritage Act existed, is already too large. It did not comply with the Australian Heritage Commission’s determination that was given before it was built. The council made the mistake of approving it then, and will compound its error if the current proposal is allowed to proceed.
The federal Australian Heritage Commission has long been dismantled as state heritage controls were established. The Queensland Heritage Act followed similar legislation in other states but came considerably later and only after public outrage at demolitions such as the Bellevue Hotel and Cloudland. That was in the Bjelke-Petersen pro-development era – a time that now seems to be repeating itself.
If we care about Brisbane and its landmarks, this development should not be allowed to proceed.
Robert John Riddel is adjunct professor in Architecture, The University of Queensland and author for The Conversation. He can be contacted <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/robert-john-riddel-236135" target="_blank">here</a>.
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Development placing Brisbane’s Customs House in danger

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Melbourne-based property developer BPM has paid $8.2 million to purchase its sixth development site in Brisbane's Toowong.
But tougher financing requirements for investors has turned the group focus towards the owner-occupier market. 
The Young Rich lister Jonathan Hallinan's newly acquired properties, combining two sites at 15 Archer Street and 628 Coronation Drive, required agreements with 10 separate vendors and took almost 11 months to negotiate, he said.
Current BPM projects in Brisbane include its 60-apartment White Dawn project, in which 15 apartments remain unsold, and a 273-apartment project in Fortitude Valley, on the 358 Wickham Street site it purchased in 2014, which is due to be released to the market in May. 
The deal comes after BPM sold a 5984-square-metre site with permit for 742 apartments on Gladstone Street in Melbourne's Fishermans Bend to Singapore-listed developer Chip Eng Seng for $52 million. 
Hallinan told The Australian Financial Review that finance equity requirements are much greater.
"But that is being drive by the financial markets, not the property market. 
"The larger-scale developments are much more difficult to finance at this time."
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Property developer BPM pays $8.2 million for Brisbane site

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Cbus Property has secured planning approval for one of Melbourne’s most prized CBD development sites, a mid-city island site with prospects for a $1.3 billion project.
The project was reduced in height to reduce any overshadowing of the Yarra River. 
The Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne reached agreement having previously knocked back an application in March this year for a 164-metre high, 47-storey twin tower proposal.
Dubbed the 'pantscraper' – the 447 Collins Street development that will be 21.6 metres shorter in height, cutting six stories from the tower complex and reducing overshadowing to just touch the northern bank of the Yarra River at mid-winter.
There are also plans for a bigger inner city park on Market Street. 
Melbourne-based Woods Bagot and SHoP Architects of New York won the competition to design the mixed-use property at 447 Collins Street in Melbourne.
The property to be built at the intersection of Collins and William Street will feature offices, residential houses, hotels, retail and public spaces.
Cbus Property exchanged contracts with Industry Superannuation Property Trust on 447 Collins Street, known as the Suncorp building, under a $91 million structured transaction.
The deal gives ISPT first right of refusal to buy back into the opportunity at a later date, through a fund-through or take-out arrangement.
“The acquisition of 447 Collins Street reflects our strategic commitment to development in Australia and in ­particular the Melbourne market,” Cbus Property boss Adrian Pozzo said.
It is a 6000 sq m site where ISPT applied for a demolition permit for 1960s era building as the anchor tenant, Suncorp, prepared to leave.
It was among a handful of CBD buildings rejected by the state government for heritage protection as some regarded the 27-level building as a prime example of post-war International style. 
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Cbus secures approval for its 447 Collins Street project

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Melbourne high-rise developer Joe Russo has suggested finding new sites for development in Melbourne that stacked up was now a lot harder. 
He forecast a lot of smaller developers would run into trouble with banks tightening up their development lending criteria following changes enforced by APRA.
"To get a loan now you need a proven track record and you have to have more pre-sales," he said.
"So there will be a nice clean-out of development sites from these developers, who paid a lot of money, but who now can't make them work.
"They will try to offload them, but there aren't a lot of takers," he told The Australian Financial Review.
He said sites with permits had too-high price tags, while those without permits now came with too much planning risk, following new interim height controls last year by Victorian Planning Minister Richard Wynne.
Caydon has recently received approval for the first stage of its $700 million Moonee Ponds development in Melbourne's inner north-west.
Caydon has yet to secure a permit for the $1 billion Nylex site development in Cremorne.
Mr Russo paid over $42 million to buy the 13,400-square-metre Moonee Ponds site from Leighton Properties and Qualitas in April last year with plans for over 1200 apartments. 
Picture of Caydon's Margaret St Moonee Ponds development
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Joe Russo forecasts "clean-out" of smaller Melbourne developers

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A development application has been lodged by property group Auswin TWT for a $300-million mixed-use project in Sydney's Ultimo.  
New Life/Ultimo at 495 Harris Street will speed up the gentrification of the often undervalued inner Sydney suburb, according to the developers. Ultimo is on the edge of Darling Harbour, Chinatown and Barangaroo, and well connected to light rail and bus services, yet RP Data research shows that the median price for an apartment is 30 percent less than neighbouring Pyrmont, said a media release.
The multi-layered building steps down from nine-storeys along Harris Street to six levels facing Bulwara Road. It will have 210 apartments ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, including two-level terraces with street-level access. There will be ground floor retail/commercial space and two basement levels for vehicles and bicycles, bringing the gross floor area to around 20,000 sqm.
“Those with vision will appreciate that Ultimo will improve and prosper just like Pyrmont has, lifting property values as it regenerates,” said Ben Stewart of CBRE.
Simon Platt of Kinsale Property Group is another realtor who believes the Auswin TWT development will give Ultimo its biggest boost since 2007 when the Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre opened.
“Ultimo is somewhat of a forgotten suburb on the doorstep of the CBD, yet it has all the attributes of being a property hot spot,” Platt said.
The design, from Architectus, features an open air courtyard and a purpose-built pedestrian laneway running from Harris Street through to Bulwara Road. Architectus was chosen after a design competition chaired by acclaimed architect Tony Caro last year.
“These features were met with approval when we held two information sessions for residents,” said Stephen Fitzpatrick, the general manager of Auswin TWT. 
The 5,322 sqm site was originally owned by the Harris family who were the dominant landowners in the area for more than a century. Bushells Tea purchased the site in 1938 and built a four-storey warehouse to store its produce.
In 1964, the newly founded Totalizator Agency Board (TAB) acquired the property as its headquarters and nerve centre for its betting business. In 2004, TAB was taken over by the Victorian-based wagering and media company Tabcorp, which 10 years later sold the property to Auswin TWT.
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Auswin TWT's $300 million residential project in Sydney's Ultimo 

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Australia's major banks were still shy of lending in the off the plan Gold Coast development space with all the major viable projects on the Gold Coast facing challenges when it came to funding.
"The big banks are still very wary of the Gold Coast," PPB Advisory's Garry McLean told the Australian Financial Review.
"They have been here before and have been hurt by settlement failures, but in saying that, there are actually some very good opportunities there."
Australia's major banks were burnt during the financial crisis when hundreds of investors refused to settle on off-the-plan purchases.
Urbis was currently monitoring 26 Gold Coast projects which could be launched within the next six to nine months that would bring 2500 apartments to the market.
It has been suggested at the current Gold Coast sales rate, that this number represented about 18 months' supply.
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There has been a flurry of property developers back for another run, but this time with their offspring in charge, the paper noting developers such as Jim Raptis and Con Nikiforides.
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It is Con's sons William, John and James who are about to start construction on a development called The Park at Mermaid Beach. 
Patriarch Jim Raptis's son Evan Raptis has a company called Emandar, which has been developing low-rise apartment towers throughout the Gold Coast.
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