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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A large number of residential apartments along Canberra's Flemington Road corridor through suburbs Franklin and Harrison could be delayed until pre-commitment sales increase and demand strengthens, according to Herron Todd White.
Herron Todd White's September Month in Review found a large number of medium density apartment developments either being built or nearing completion in Belconnen, Central Canberra, Gungahlin and Woden with high quality inclusions and in some cases smaller floor plates.
"The entry level price point for a modern 1-bedroom unit in the Gungahlin area is around $260,000, while high value, centrally located penthouse style units can achieve $2 million plus price levels," it said.
"The average number of multi unit sales in Canberra equates to 3,000 to 3,500 on average per annum. Of this amount approximately 50% are new units. Accordingly, some 1,750 new multi unit dwellings are required to meet annual demand in this sector of the market."
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Unit construction tied to pre-commitment sales in Canberra suburbs: Herron Todd White

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You’ve found what you think is a brilliant development site.  Now it’s time to jump on that roller coaster and start the ride of your life as you commence the analysis process.  Will the project be feasible?  What is feasible anyway?  
Feasible is really another word for “is it going to be financially worth it for you to spend your time, energy, money, blood, sweat and tears developing this site?”
Some advice I can give you about property investing and anyone in property will also tell you, to stay emotionally unattached to the property, as this is where bad decisions can be made. I have seen it many times and this is where it can all come undone.
Firstly, it’s important to determine your development strategy and your investing criteria prior to looking for a development site.  Your strategy may include:
<ul>
<li>Land Subdivision</li>
<li>Renovate an existing dwelling</li>
<li>Dual occupancy or low density development</li>
<li>Renovate an existing dwelling and build new villas/units also on the land</li>
<li>Medium density development</li>
<li>All of the above</li>
</ul>
Your budget will help to determine your development strategy. A simple land subdivision will be less costly (but not necessarily quicker) than a larger villa/unit development for instance. 
As part of your strategy, you will need to think about what profit margin you would feel comfortable making from a development.   You may have heard about the ‘20% profit margin’ rule for developers?   Once all development costs are taken from the potential sale result of the properties, (when selling the properties) there will be a 20% profit margin.  Personally, I don’t always work back from a certain profit margin as I find this restrictive.  
Most Property Bloom clients are looking to boost their portfolios, create some equity and hold the new properties long term, so we also need to meet other criteria such as rental returns and depreciation benefits on completion.  
To determine the feasibility of a site, you will need to:
<ul>
<li>Talk to an accountant who specialises in property and one who preferably develops property themselves as they can advise you on the best structure or entity to purchase under and explain the tax implications when developing such as GST and CGT.  </li>
<li>Meet with a finance broker or a bank to determine your budget and the best loan structure for your development.  It’s important to choose a lender that offers construction loans for more than one dwelling and find out what their lending criteria is around this i.e. not all residential lenders will lend to you for a four unit site for instance.  Check interest rates on these loans.</li>
<li>Meet with solicitor to determine their costs. They will check for restrictive covenants or easements that may affect the land. They will also make sure services are available and connected especially if you are developing in a new area as well as finalising the deal for you.</li>
<li>Read the local Development Control Plan (DCP) and Local Environment Plan (LEP) and speak with your council’s town planner to find out DA and CC (Construction Certificate) fees and charges. </li>
<li>Meet with an architect and builder to determine what you can build on the site and estimated construction costs.  Some builders offer standard designs which will save you design fees.  If they do this, then they will be familiar with the local planning requirements.  If you are not happy with a standard design, engage a local architect to design specifically for the site. Get a quote.</li>
<li>A surveyor will give you advice on the subdivision process and estimate costs relating to the subdivision including sewer extension and service connection costs.  </li>
<li>If you are time poor and/or inexperienced, then factor in a cost to use a project manager. The cost can be taken up in the depreciation schedule and you will save a lot of time.</li>
<li>Talk to real estate agents to determine the value of your development and rental returns on completion and their management costs if you are holding as this will have huge impact on the success of the feasibility.  It's important to take current market conditions into account.</li>
<li>Research other costs such as Stamp Duty and if there are any government grants applicable that  may offset some of the stamp duty, insurance costs and interest/holding costs.</li>
</ul>
The aim is to keep the above costs to a minimum so you will receive a higher profit margin. At Property Bloom we have negotiated discounts with all our suppliers, builders and consultants. Even our preferred property managers give our clients a discounted management fee, so if you can do the same, you'll make a good saving.  
Compile a spread sheet for the costs or there are software programs available to help you with this process.
The more development sites you assess, the quicker you'll understand which ones are feasible and which ones just don't stack up. Have fun and enjoy the ride!
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>. 
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Is that development project feasible? Jo Chivers

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New development plans for Martin Place include outdoor dining between Sydney's Pitt and George Streets near the World War One memorial the Cenotaph.
The City is looking for public comment on the new draft policies which include a City North public domain plan that outlines new works to enliven Martin Place and streets running into Alfred Street at Circular Quay in preparation for light rail, and outdoor dining policies to cut red tape and make it easier to introduce outdoor dining by simplifying applications and extending licence periods to help create a more vibrant and active City.
<img src="/images/2015/09/17/martin.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="359">
Under the proposed plan, restaurants can seek permits for outdoor tables well away from the Cenotaph.
Proposed changes also include upgrades to Alfred Street, Loftus Street, Reiby Place, Young Street and Phillip Street.
 
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Outdoor dining key to Martin Place makeover

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The Pontiac Land Group from Singapore has been awarded the rights to develop the two heritage sandstone buildings in Sydney's Bridge Street.
It will become a $300 million, 240-room luxury hotel after the leasehold sale by the NSW Government.
The developer secured the long-term lease of the former Lands Building at 23-33 Bridge Street and the 1915 Education Building at 35-39 Bridge Street.
The property portfolio of the billionaire Kwee family already includes luxury hotels, the Ritz-Carlton Millenia and the Regent Four Seasons hotel in Singapore.
It will pay $35 million for the 103-year lease of the 19th century landmarks. 
"This flagship hotel is all about making smarter use of our property assets. Proceeds from the lease will be reinvested in infrastructure, and there will be substantial savings to NSW taxpayers on avoided maintenance," NSW Minister for Finance, Services and Property, Dominic Perrottet said.
"Importantly, these iconic heritage assets will be enjoyed by locals, tourists and visitors, rather than just being used as offices for bureaucrats." 
A concept plan approved by the NSW Planning Department allows for up to three additional storeys on the Department of Education building which lies between Loftus and Young streets. 
Construction is expected to commence after the buildings are vacated in 2018.
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Pontiac secures Sydney sandstone hotel tender victory

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A residential development site in the Brisbane suburb of Griffin has sold at a rate of $1.18 million per hectare, with a total size of 15.44 hectares over three lots.
The total development site, located between Dohles Rocks Road and Wagner Road, roughly 22 kilometres north of Brisbane CBD, was sold for $18.25 million to Oxmar Properties through Colliers International on behalf of RSL Care Limited.
A development application has already been lodged for a residential community .
Colliers International’s Brendan Hogan said the vacant land price in the suburb of Griffin has significantly increased over the recent period which is consistent with the strong population growth in the area.  
“Being one of the last available greenfield sites in Griffin, it attracted nine offers from a range of public, private and offshore groups," he said.
“The buyer Oxmar is a local based developer who understands this value proposition as they are already active throughout the Moreton Bay region."
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North Brisbane development site sells for $18.25 million

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With each property development we manage, we'll fine tune the process so that on the next one, we'll do something a little differently to improve the results. 
After completing over 80 developments, our process has become pretty refined. But there is always something we can improve on. 
Sometimes they are just small tweaks that can make a massive difference. This particular example I'll share with you shaved literally a month off the planning process.
At Property Bloom we work across a number of different councils and each council has their own way of looking at and processing a Development Application (DA). It can be easy to make assumptions based on past experience. 
So when we started working in a new location that fell under a council we'd not yet worked with, we assumed they'd review our plans in the same fashion as the other councils. The first few DAs (all assigned to different town planners) were processed within about 7-8 weeks on average. This is a lot longer than we liked but still not as bad as another council's processing times. It fell somewhere in the middle of our best and worst processing times. 
The time your DA is in council is dead time, there is not too much you can do whilst you wait for the consent in case changes need to be made. We tend to use this period to choose material and colours.
Even after working with some councils for ten years, it will come down to the individual town planner who is assessing your DA and what they like to see marked on your plans. If they request 'more Information' then your DA is put on hold until they receive a response.  
This particular DA was assigned to a planner we'd not yet worked with at this council. We received a letter requesting more information on off street parking locations. The plans detailed a single garage for each villa. The requirements are to provide two parking spaces. Obviously one is in the garage - but here's where our assumption kicked in -  we thought the planner could 'see' that the second space was on the driveway as a stacked or tandem parking space.  
We quickly marked this on the plan and immediately sent it to the planner, and within three days we had the DA Consent on our desk. This set a record of processing time with this council - four weeks, down from eight weeks. 
It goes without saying that this was added to our list of what to include on the plans and we made a mental note never to assume. We are now a month ahead of schedule and our client is happy to save time and holding costs.
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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Drop assumptions and save time on your planning process: Jo Chivers

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Community groups upset that The Hills Shire Council propose to lower development heights around stations in the North West Rail Corridor have every right to protest. 
It is rare that we see community groups angry that a council has reduced heights for new development in their area but this is what has been achieved by the Hills Shire Council. 
Days after the State Government has announced the Greater Sydney Commission to better co- ordinate planning across Sydney we see an individual council preparing their own plans, in an attempt to usurp the State Government plans that will shortly go on public exhibition.
The North West Rail Corridor Plans developed by the Department of Planning and Environment are in direct response to the state government’s new railway line through the North West. 
Clearly robust development is needed around these stations to ensure taxpayers gain the most benefit from this piece of infrastructure and the Department’s plans would achieve this. It seems bizarre to now have a competing plan produced by the local council on the basis that their plan reflects ‘the values and lifestyle of local residents’. Certainly those residents who own land which is now worth considerably less due to reduced development potential will feel that their values have been reduced.
The Council has increased uncertainty and confusion for both the local community and the development industry by exhibiting plans for these precincts when the Department of Planning &amp; Environment has made it clear that they are developing detailed plans for these areas.
The Hills Shire Council proposes an incentive system to ensure that ‘The Hills Shire values’ are achieved. This means extra floor space will be available if proposals for new apartments have Shire apartment sizes and mix.
The Greater Sydney Commission will need to manage the local rules to reflect local values that could lead to multiple planning standards across Metropolitan Sydney.
The Urban Taskforce is keen to work with local community groups that are battling their council’s attempts to reduce development potential on their land.
Chris Johnson is chief executive officer of property development industry group Urban Taskforce and can be contacted <a href="https://www.urbantaskforce.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=97&amp;Itemid=126#.Vdaart55dFI" target="_blank">here</a>.
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The Hills are alive with the sound of speculator home seller protest: Urban Taskforce

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A Gold Coast beachside land holding on Broadbeach has gone on the market with direct Broadbeach Mall frontage.  
Buildings include the three level retail/commercial Niecon Plaza built in the 1980s, which also boasts a retail arcade, the two level 12 Albert Avenue (known as the McGrath Building), and the two level 16 Albert Avenue commercial building currently occupied by Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
The 12-18 Albert Ave property, is for sale by international expression of interest campaign being marketed by Colliers International. It was also launched in China in late August.
Colliers international special projects national director, Darrell Irwin, said he expects Development Application approval in coming weeks for a twin tower mixed use development with a total of 244 apartments comprising 372 bedrooms - one 28 storey tower with 90 apartments and a second 35 storey tower with 154 apartments.
“We know that China continues to be the Gold Coast’s largest international market and this will be further strengthened with direct services starting on September 29 from central China’s most populous city Wuhan, followed by Hong Kong Airlines charter flights to the Gold Coast next January to March,” he said.
Colliers International is marketing the site on behalf of Niecon Plaza Pty and Rockdune Pty Ltd, linked to Raptis Investments Pty Ltd.
International Expressions of Interest close 5th November 2015.
 
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

Broadbeach Mall site hits the market

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We're at the pointy end of a development and I'm in the middle of coordinating the last three weeks so everything falls into place efficiently. Our job as project managers is to save our clients time and money and sometimes a development can really drag out at the end of construction.
I thought I'd share all the things that need to happen as a Property Bloom project nears completion and why it's so importance to manage this carefully. 
We have a dual occupancy project that is three weeks out from completion. I can say three weeks confidently as I've worked back from the date of Handover to right now and listed everything that needs to happen. 
We define completion not by the construction work finishing, but by the dwellings being tenanted and earning income for our clients. It's one of the most important stages because our clients have been paying the builder's draw downs through the development and now it's time for them to reap the financial rewards. 
Our process aims for a zero vacancy period and we do this by using something that is intangible yet very valuable. Strong relationships. 
So in these last few weeks we need to micro manage the builder, our client and their bank, a valuer, our property management agency, our private certifier, a landscaper, the estate guidelines manager and our quantity surveyor. 
The first step towards the end is to conduct the Practical Completion (PC) inspection  as soon as we can, but not too soon that the builder is not ready. This is when we'll walk through the villas and compile a list of items that still need finishing off. These may include paint touch ups, cleaning, any damage to exteriors (I always check the gutters and fascias closely as sometimes they harbour dents), chips in anything, landscaping, fencing, blinds, carpet and built in robes, shower screens all installed, sliding door and window tracks cleaned of all dirt (my pet hate is dirt left in tracks!) and I make sure everything works right down to a strong flush to the toilets. 
The builder has a week to address the items on the PC inspection list and then we'll come back and reinspect. In the meantime, we need our client to send the final builder's invoice to their bank for payment. Before releasing the final funds, the bank will send their valuer to check works have been completed. We must ensure the valuer is booked in quickly and has no problems with access otherwise the final payment can be held up.  When the money is released to the builder, keys can be handed to tenants. So no keys, means no tenants, means no income. 
At the same time we ensure that the Private Certifier conducts their final inspection. Once they have done this and have all related documentation,  the Occupation Certificate (OC) will be released.  No OC, means no tenant, means no income.
We've cut a deal with an agency who is going to lease the villas (whether a tenant has actually moved in or not) from the day the OC is received. So it's important we get this as quickly as possible but all Conditions of the DA must be met before the Certifier will release the OC. 
We are also coordinating with an external landscaper who is responsible for the front landscaping and it must meet stringent estate guidelines.  This work has to be completed before the OC can be issued.
We brief our Quantity Surveyor to prepare Depreciation Schedules for our client to use at tax time as soon as we've received the builder's final invoice as this completes the actual build costs. However, the Depreciation Schedules cannot be completed until we have a Handover date. Handover is officially when the builder has received the final payment into their account and keys are released. 
We need to ensure our builder has completed all works in time and there is a good measure of trust as the builder allows our management agency on site to show the villas to prospective tenants before Handover has occurred. Our client also trusts us to ensure the builder gets everything finished after they've submitted the builders final invoice to the bank. 
Communication through this period is key. We talk a lot to our client, their bank and the contractors to ensure everyone completes their tasks when they should - all it takes is for one not to and it can hold up the entire process. 
So in exactly three weeks time this dual occ project will be completely finished, our client will be happy with tenants in place, our builder will be happy they've been paid quickly and we'll be happy that it all came together nicely. 
Jo Chivers is chief executive officer of property development project managers <a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au/about" target="_blank">Property Bloom</a>.
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What happens in the last three weeks of a development? Jo Chivers

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A town-hall styled meeting as part of the Brisbane Writers Festival has been organised to discuss what a future Brisbane would look like.
The event, Brisbane 2050: Imagining our Future City, is being held at the Queensland State Library on Saturday 5th September 2015, between 6-8pm.
Andrew Gutteridge, principal of event parnter Arkhefield, will join a panel of experts including Bernard Salt; architect, author and journalist, Elizabeth Farrelly; and Griffith University Associate Professor, Geoff Woolcock.
He said Brisbane has enormous potential, and we want to engage the community in shaping our city’s future.
 “It’s a prime opportunity for the people to have an open platform to talk about their vision for Brisbane and come together to create a city that we all want to live, work and play in,” he said.
Tickets are available to purchase <a href="https://bwf.org.au" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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