<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> has lodged plans for a $750 million, three-tower mixed-use precinct that would complete the long-running redevelopment of Carlton's former Carlton United Breweries site.

The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/185-195-queensberry-street-carlton-vic-3053">46-78 Bouverie Street and 185-195 Queensberry Street</a> spans a 6,468 sqm site, the last remaining undeveloped parcels within the former brewery's 2007 masterplan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the development will comprise two purpose-built student accommodation towers and a third build-to-sell apartment tower above a shared commercial podium and basement.

Across the three towers, SP Setia is proposing 606 build-to-sell apartments and 1,499 student accommodation units containing 2,009 beds.

The apartments will sit in the tallest tower, which will rise nearly 200m and 55 storeys. It will become&nbsp;one of the more substantial new build-to-sell apartment projects at the northern edge of Melbourne's CBD.

The apartment mix is weighted toward smaller inner-city product, with 188 studios, 206 one-bedroom apartments, 192 two-bedroom apartments and 20 three-bedroom apartments

<img alt="First look: SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8271bc87-1b0a-41b7-ac73-a425ee375261" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/3_2.png?VersionId=G4lw23o90B1boX4k4dj7rdz2ZEajS9wy" />

Part of the precinct will be a large-scale&nbsp;3,684 sqm supermarket and a further 2,198 sqm of speciality retail, creating close to 5,900 sqm of new commercial space within the precinct.

But one of the biggest components of the proposal is what sits between the buildings.

Around 4,650 sqm, or roughly 72 per cent of the site, will be publicly accessible open space, incorporating plazas, pedestrian connections, landscaped laneways and retail spill-out areas.

The ground plane is intended to finally complete pedestrian connections envisaged when the CUB masterplan was first approved nearly two decades ago, stitching together Victoria Street, Queensberry Street, Bouverie Street and Swanston Street through the former brewery precinct.

Urbis said the development would "complete the CUB precinct", with the public realm providing important north-south and east-west connections through what is currently the final undeveloped portion of the masterplanned site.

SP Setia is also exploring a new linear park within the Bouverie Street road reserve, with the concept to be developed further with the City of Melbourne through the planning process.

The proposal is being pursued through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program under Clause 53.23 for significant residential development with affordable housing.

The planning report acknowledges the proposed heights exceed those contemplated under the original Comprehensive Development Plan and masterplan, but argues the built-form context has changed considerably over the past two decades.

Urbis said the three towers would instead create a stepped transition between Carlton and the Hoddle Grid, rising progressively from the 94.1-metre Tower One along the Queensberry Street edge to the 199.44-metre Tower Three closer to the established CBD-scale buildings to the south.

<img alt="SP Setia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e885a07a-592c-40fc-bf82-e6dbaf32da54" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.52.24%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7s_ErUkSKAdY1mAWp3GRZgMNCGtwhk5m" />

SP Setia plans to deliver the development across three stages.

Stage One would deliver the basement, podium and retail areas for the entire precinct alongside the first student tower. Tower Two would follow in Stage Two, before the 606-apartment Tower Three is delivered as the final stage.

If approved and delivered, the project would close out a redevelopment process that has been underway since the former brewery masterplan was approved in 2007, adding more than 2,600 student beds and apartments to a precinct already home to Swanston Central, the Barak Building, RMIT Design Hub and several large student accommodation developments.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct

Melbourne developer Lowe Living is seeking to add to its growing bayside apartment pipeline, filing plans for a boutique eight-residence development in tightly held Middle Park.

Lowe Living, which has built much of its development portfolio across Melbourne's affluent bayside and south-east suburbs, is behind the plans for the 730 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/123-125-erskine-street-middle-park-vic-3206">123-125 Erskine Street</a>, just off Armstrong Street and within the Armstrong Street Neighbourhood Activity Centre.

The developer is seeking approval for a five-storey residential building above two basement levels, with just eight large-format apartments and 18 car spaces.

“This is a deliberately very different proposition for us,"&nbsp;Tim Lowe, Co-Founder of Lowe Living, said.

"Eight residences is exceptionally boutique, but that's precisely what this site calls for.

“There is a strong community in Middle Park and the surrounding suburbs who have spent decades building a life here. They no longer want the maintenance of a large period home, but they aren't prepared to compromise on space, quality or location. We think there is a real opportunity to capture that hyper local market. A site like this rarely comes to market.”

<img alt="Lowe " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="875fe572-0f14-4d90-9e11-55b28dd07731" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.42.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GDNQRv9BfpR9r1zkZ5UDyUM4ZvpIksut" />

The low-density proposal has been designed by Cera Stribley and is being progressed through the Victorian Government's Great Design Fast Track pathway, having already secured eligibility from the Minister for Planning.

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect supported its eligibility after finding the proposal demonstrated consistency with the program's seven design principles, while the project's financial feasibility has also been independently confirmed by Invest Victoria.

The project is targeting the downsizer market, with the planning documents describing the homes as larger-format residences and noting the two penthouses could otherwise have been configured as four separate apartments.

<img alt="Lowe 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60ab0987-2da6-4175-adac-315dcf6053c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.15%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=bOCPH0B2MFwlmaRW.TTCF9TzyifgVoQI" />

The site has dual frontage to Erskine Street and Canterbury Place and currently comprises a collection of commercial buildings used as offices, including a former heritage bakehouse, a former stable, a later gabled addition and a central courtyard.

It sits within the Commercial 1 Zone and the Armstrong Street Commercial Precinct heritage overlay, with the existing property classified as a contributory heritage place.

Heritage has subsequently played a significant role in Cera Stribley's design.

The front section of the former bakehouse facing Erskine Street will be retained, including its return walls, street-facing hipped roof and chimneys, while the Erskine Street façade and part of the western return wall of the former stable will also be incorporated into the new development.

Levels four and five will be set back five metres from the retained stable façade, while bricks removed through demolition are proposed to be salvaged and reused within the new building where possible.

<img alt="Lowe 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e97927a9-a2de-4a0f-83b6-65451238abfa" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=VR44AChLrX9q1XPB9GvVQV.ALXXbe4gC" />

Rather than presenting as a single five-storey building to Erskine Street, Cera Stribley has broken the development into a series of distinct forms.

A three-storey infill element will sit between the retained bakehouse and stable façades, with the upper levels recessed behind the heritage fabric. Canterbury Place will similarly feature two three-storey podium forms, separated by a central pedestrian accessway, before the upper two levels step back from the street.

A pedestrian through-link will run through the centre of the project between Erskine Street and Canterbury Place, creating entrances from both sides of the site and introducing landscaping and communal areas through the ground plane.

Landscape architect Acre has designed planting across the ground level, private terraces and upper levels, including a feature canopy tree at level three and integrated planting and arbours across the level four terraces. Five existing Erskine Street trees are proposed to be retained.

Sustainability is also a significant component of the Great Design Fast Track application. The apartments are targeting an average eight-star NatHERS rating, with no residence below 6.5 stars, while the project has achieved a 75 per cent BESS score. Seven of the eight apartments are designed for cross-ventilation, with the remaining residence using mechanically assisted natural ventilation.

The plans also incorporate an 8kWp rooftop solar system, a 5,000-litre rainwater tank and infrastructure allowing future electric vehicle charging for every residence.

Lowe has a strong portfolio across Melbourne's blue-chip suburbs. They recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House by Lowe Living</a> in Camberwell, their first development in the Stonnington LGA.

Lowe Living unveils Middle Park apartment development

Article summary

<ul data-end="888" data-start="289">
	<li data-end="442" data-section-id="8tsh6o" data-start="289">DVB Projects is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway at 137 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach.</li>
	<li data-end="573" data-section-id="1nyxl3e" data-start="443">The 34-level tower will comprise just 49 ultra-luxury residences, including half-floor, full-floor and penthouse apartments.</li>
	<li data-end="717" data-section-id="oiyimj" data-start="574">The launch follows strong demand at DVB's nearby Sea Glass project, which is more than 50 per cent sold and currently under construction.</li>
	<li data-end="888" data-section-id="epk9o9" data-start="718">The development adds to the transformation of Old Burleigh Road, with premium beachfront apartment projects continuing to reshape the tightly held Broadbeach strip.</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dvb-projects">DVB Projects</a> is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway on the Broadbeach site as the Sydney developer moves closer to bringing the ultra-luxury project to market.

The 34-level tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/137-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">137 Old Burleigh Road</a> will comprise just 49 residences, ranging from half-floor apartments through to full-floor homes and a penthouse. The launch follows the strong sales performance of DVB's nearby Sea Glass development. More than half of the apartments at Sea Glass, on the other side of Broadbeach, have been snapped up, well ahead of its late 2027 completion

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2944b4be-c84e-4b54-8dc1-c712e76704c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E02_Exterior_Street%20Level%20Entrance.jpg?VersionId=YoNig7pRdrE3HCue7sUj78LzJteeQf3H" />

The start of demolition at 137 Old Burleigh Road signals DVB Projects’ underlying confidence in the Gold Coast’s luxury beachside apartment sector.

“We see the Gold Coast as one of the most compelling lifestyle markets in Australia, particularly at the premium end where demand continues to deepen,” said Dean Brown, Managing Director of DVB.&nbsp;

“This project has been carefully designed to respond to that demand - delivering large-format residences with a level of quality, privacy and amenity that is still relatively rare in the apartment market on the beachside."

Brown says the site itself is "exceptional."

"Old Burleigh Road is one of the most tightly held beachfront strips, and opportunities to deliver a project of this scale and calibre in this location are extremely limited.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="398f377a-c037-455e-9250-0c5e0d84c35b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/I12_FF%20Balcony.jpg?VersionId=NwOiRWGMubR1c8wthuEfggklcja7al9." />

The project will comprise 40 half-floor residences of approximately 260 sqm, alongside eight full-floor residences spanning around 524 sqm.

A single penthouse will crown the building, featuring a private pool, barbecue area, indoor gym and dedicated entertaining spaces.

Residents will have access to a resort-style suite of amenities, including a 20-metre pool with daybeds, a gymnasium, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and private residents’ lounge and dining facilities.

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1642bb0-9a66-4427-a022-dfc0988c6287" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A02_Pool%20to%20View.jpg?VersionId=c0IXPyn_Gp_Kn3XCwzMrqIVkAdCEwVXP" />

Sales agent Todd Matheson, of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/pezet-matheson">Pezet Matheson</a>, which is marketing both 137 Old Burleigh Road and Sea Glass, said 137 Old Burleigh Road would address a clear gap in the market for genuine luxury products.

“There are very few opportunities on the Gold Coast where buyers can secure a residence of this size and quality in a new building,” Matheson said.

“What we’re seeing is a growing cohort of downsizers and interstate buyers who still want space - they’re not willing to compromise on living area, entertaining or finishes.

“This project has been designed with that buyer in mind. It offers the scale of a home, combined with the convenience and security of apartment living, in one of the coast’s most desirable positions.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59aae0ca-5639-4320-8aca-d0bf60f48e43" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E01_Exterior%20Hero.jpg?VersionId=DS8Zfy2WtgUEtdfe0TEUuf1W1GfcZq8S" />

Located on a 1,156 sqm site one block from the beachfront, the development will replace an ageing walk-up building and is expected to contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Old Burleigh Road strip into one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious residential corridors.

With the development moving into the delivery phase, 137 Old Burleigh Road is slated to hit the market later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145141]

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

<a data-end="327" data-is-only-node="" data-start="250" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/norus-projects" rel="noopener" target="_new">Norus Developments</a> has lodged plans for a new apartment development in Clayton that would add further momentum to the suburb's emerging Green Street corridor.

Plans have been lodged for the consolidated site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1359-1365-centre-road-clayton-vic-3168">1359-1365 Centre Road</a>, where Norus is seeking approval for 218 apartments across a 12-storey apartment building designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/life-architecture-and-urban-design">Life Architecture</a>.

The proposal sits within the Clayton Major Activity Centre at the threshold of the planned Green Street corridor, a landscaped pedestrian connection intended to improve links through the precinct towards Clayton Railway Station.

The development would replace the site's existing collection of low-scale residential and commercial buildings with a single consolidated building, introducing significantly greater housing density to this part of Centre Road.

A retail tenancy is proposed at ground level to activate the Centre Road frontage, accompanied by transparent street interfaces and landscaping intended to create a more pedestrian-focused edge to the development.

<img alt="First look: Norus Developments plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a5a763a-d9e9-4253-af2f-88008de27ebf" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Clayton%20a.png?VersionId=S2WJJbat1XVkZwB9SnYtygirXgWHiklX" />

The building has been designed with stepped massing and upper-level setbacks to manage its transition towards surrounding residential properties. The planning report describes the approach as one that integrates the building into the landscape rather than treating landscaping as a secondary element.

"A strong landscape and public realm strategy underpins the proposal," Urbis states in the planning report.

"Public benefits include an affordable housing contribution, a new pocket park, generous landscaped setbacks, deep soil planting and integrated Water Sensitive Urban Design."

The report adds that these elements are intended to create "a permeable, pedestrian-focused ground plane that enhances walkability, supports urban cooling and reinforces the emerging Green Street character."

Biophilic and passive design principles extend through the residential levels, with planting, daylight, natural ventilation and views towards landscaped areas forming part of the amenity strategy.

Parking would be concentrated away from the public realm, with 145 car spaces proposed from the rear laneway rather than dominating the Centre Road frontage.

The proposal follows an extensive pre-application process with the City of Monash. Three formal meetings were held between the project team and Council from December 2025 to March 2026, with the scheme evolving through several concept iterations before the current design was lodged.

The project arrives as Clayton prepares for substantial change around its established activity centre and the wider Suburban Rail Loop precinct. Its position on Centre Road places the development within an existing concentration of shops, services and public transport, while the Green Street connection is intended to strengthen pedestrian access towards Clayton Railway Station.

First look: Norus plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a> has officially commenced construction on Bronze on Chevron, celebrating the sod turning of its first-ever Gold Coast development and marking a significant milestone in the company's continued expansion across South East Queensland.&nbsp;

Following the successful delivery of premium residential developments throughout Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-chevron-island-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> represents Gardner Vaughan Group's entry into the Gold Coast market. Bronze will deliver 119 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments above two ground-level retail tenancies.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367193]

The recent sod turning ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel, President of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, Cassandra Sedgman, project consultants, purchasers, project partners and invited guests to celebrate the commencement of construction.&nbsp;

Gardner Vaughan Group Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge said Bronze on Chevron represented an exciting new chapter for the business.&nbsp;

"We've spent almost four decades building homes that respond to the way people want to live, and we're excited to bring that experience to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>," Betteridge said.

"Bronze on Chevron is particularly significant because it marks Gardner Vaughan Group's first development on the Gold Coast following many successful projects across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367183]

Betteridge said the ground breaking is a proud moment for the&nbsp;team and their purchasers, who can now see their future homes beginning to take shape.&nbsp;

"As both developer and builder, we're able to oversee every aspect of the project from design through to construction, ensuring the quality and attention to detail Gardner Vaughan Group has become renowned for."&nbsp;

Designed by acclaimed architectural practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, Bronze on Chevron has been thoughtfully designed to complement Chevron Island's evolving streetscape while embracing its relaxed coastal lifestyle.

The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]

The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029

Gardner Vaughan Group breaks ground on first Gold Coast development, Bronze on Chevron

Off the plan

As the return to the office stalls due to ongoing lockdowns in Sydney and Melbourne, discerning apartment developers are pivoting their approach to apartment design.

If not already as standard, a number of developers are going hard on the work-from-home office space, whether it&#39;s part of the wider development or within the apartments.

More than one-10th of Melbourne&#39;s office floor space was untenanted in July, the Property Council of Australia&#39;s Office Market Report showed. The St Kilda Rd precinct had Melbourne highest vacancy rate at 16.3 per cent, followed by Southbank by 15.2 per cent.

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the&nbsp;demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic.

&quot;The multitude of workspaces within a single dwelling has definitely risen as we move to more longer-term workplace flexibility and adaptive environments,&quot; McCue said.

The customisable apartments at Riverlee&#39;s mixed-use Melbourne development Seafarers had a recent buyer re-jig&nbsp;the floorplan, taking out the laundry sink which was moved to the ensuite to accomodate a study nook large enough for two people, fitted with cabinetry and shelving.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=97028]

The developer Riverlee also focused on the home office boom by adding shared facilities in the 123-room development, located in the same Flinders Street building as&nbsp;Australia&#39;s first 1 Hotel.

Residents will have access to a number of meeting rooms and breakout areas, an 800-seat function space, a residents-only library and communal lounge. There&#39;s also onsite building support staff who can assist with printing.

The home office facilities, as well as the access of&nbsp;exclusive privileges when staying at a&nbsp;1 Hotel&nbsp;worldwide, has seen a big uptake in purchases by entrepreneurs and executives.

Seafarers was&nbsp;designed by Fender Katsalidis on the banks of the Yarra River. They were tasked with&nbsp;reimagining&nbsp;the heritage-protected Goods Shed 5, preserving&nbsp;the only intact remnants from the days before containerisation.

McCue said Seafarers&nbsp;faceted exterior does more than create a striking urban presence, it yields uniquely large floorplans.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=73042]

&quot;From the four-bedroom penthouses to two-bedroom residences, each interior is meticulously planned to maximise natural light, external views and connection to the textures and rhythms of its riverfront setting,&quot; McCue said.

&quot;Luxury can mean so much in terms of spatial and service amenity and is where Seafarers achieves luxury in many ways.

&quot;From a service inclusion and connection to 1 Hotels, to the kitchen joinery and fixtures inclusions, to the inclusion of generous and highly-functional storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=27728 project_image_fid=161089]

&quot;There was a lot of consideration around house-like storage amenity, as well as spatial amenity and flow through spaces and connection.

&quot;Our key spatial thinking and beliefs include connected indoor and outdoor living spaces, controlled and extended aspects, extended views that are aligned with internal planning.&quot;

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=27728]

Chris McCue, managing director at architecture and design firm Carr, says he has seen the demand for a tailored home office space continue right through the pandemic

How apartment customisation and adding a home office is driving off the plan sales

Meriton has secured a record $5.96million sale in an off-the-plan apartment amalgamation in its 180 George Parramatta project.

The buyer has purchased four apartments in the complex being developed by billionaire Harry Triguboff&rsquo;s Meriton Apartments.

It is due for completion in early 2023.

Meriton national sales director James Sialepis told News Ltd the buyer secured a combined 460 sqm floor space.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=8590 project_image_fid=71714]

&ldquo;To break the record for the highest priced apartment sold in the entire western Sydney is a phenomenal result,&rdquo; he said.

The buyer will be able to customize their layout within the 67 storey glass tower.

There were 522 apartments approved prior to amalgamations in 180 George.

One of the nearby popular off the plan projects in Parramatta is&nbsp;Imperial&nbsp;by Merhis as was the completed The Galleria project at 9 Hassall Street by Nucorp.

Meriton has negotiated a record off-the-plan amalgamated apartment price in its 180 George Parramatta complex

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Meriton secure 180 George Parramatta record apartment sale

Byron Bay has enjoyed a COVID-induced boom, with capital city holiday makers and investors driving the housing market&nbsp;in the small northern New South Wales town.&nbsp;

But the area is set to welcome a new breed of holiday maker. There&#39;s rare plans for new apartments on Jonson Street, the main street on the way in to town.

Low-key Melbourne investor Adam Garrison&nbsp;and Singaporean real estate tycoon Dr Stanley Quek are behind&nbsp;$52 million proposal for the&nbsp;mixed-use precinct at 90-96 Jonson Street, with local architect Harley Graham Architects designing the three-level building.

That&nbsp;includes ground level&nbsp;retail, some 1,750 sqm which will&nbsp;incorporate&nbsp;a spice alley. There will also be a cascading pool in the landscaped piazza by Daniel Baffsky at 360 Degrees.

Baffsky was&nbsp;given an extensive brief to green the structure in keeping with local subtropical climate and the buildings orientation.

<img alt="" height="674" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/90-96_jonson_st_byron_bay_2_0.jpg" width="1200" /> 
The plans submitted to the Byron Shire Council. Source: Harley Graham Architects

Levels one and two will be a mix&nbsp;two and three-bedroom apartments, ranging from 90 sqm to 120 sqm. Each will have a front terrace and a rear balcony, and most will have an internal lush lightwell.

Crowning the development will be a resident only rooftop, with swimming pool, pool deck, residential lawn, solar farm, yoga deck and native walking gardens.

There was a pre-lodgement meeting in March where it was revealed that when the notification to local Byron residents was distributed, there were three&nbsp;individuals expressing interest in the residential apartments, with two further sales enquiries received after the consultation closed.

They wanted to be kept updated on the proposal, however, were advised that a number of assessments and plans were yet to be finalised and that their interest was premature.&nbsp;

<img alt="" height="658" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/90-96_jonson_st_byron_bay_3_0.jpg" width="1200" /> 
The plans submitted to the Byron Shire Council. Source: Harley Graham Architects

There&#39;s concerns from locals the apartments will just become lucrative holiday lets and not address the chronic shortage or housing in the area. There are some 3,500 properties listed on Airbnb in the Byron Shire,&nbsp;

It&#39;s the second plans lodged on Jonson Street this year.&nbsp;

Developer Podia has <a href="/news/nsw/27-million-byron-bay-serviced-apartment-project-lodged-by-podia">proposed a $27 million development including serviced apartments</a> at the Holiday Village Backpackers site in Byron Bay.

The project is proposed for 116 and 118 Jonson Street, Byron Bay, currently the Holiday Village Backpackers.

DESIGN SUMMARY

The overall design aims for an environmentally and socially sustainable development. Delivering an integrated experience between the architecture, landscape and varied public and private activates of the site, creating a vibrant precinct to live and visit. This is achieved through multiple devices, including;

&bull; Improved pedestrian connection 
&bull; Activated public frontage 
&bull; Inclusion of fine grain retail spaces 
&bull; Contemporary residential amenity 
&bull; Connection to public amenity including greenspace and transport 
 
The landscape is conceived as a holistic urban garden. The landscape is a counterpoint to the modern architecture and a complement to the district &rsquo;s vernacular. It is a juxtaposition of a wild oasis and a familiar domestic courtyard. It is both elevated and vertical, and being integral to the architecture, demonstrates a progressive whole-of-building approach to the urban landscape that breaks free of the typology of peripheral and interstitial boundary treatments and singular ground floor or podium landscape. The whole of building landscape approach seeks to create a cohesive environmental and socially sustainable landscape and living building.

The sequence of landscape components (streetscape and piazza, retail lane, podium gardens, and residential amenity) combine to create an integrated, verdant and diverse sequence of spaces that contributes to both the private domain of the building&rsquo;s residents and the public domain of the broader Byron precinct.

The overall design aims for an environmental and socially sustainable landscape and an integrated landscape experience with the buildings architecture and function, activating the site and creating a vibrant precinct and place to live. The podium gardens have been designed with the intention to form a focus on the development and provide complete site cover of landscape. These spaces also provide social and recreational opportunities for residents, while contributing to the urban character, visual quality and biodiversity of the area.

This development demonstrates a progressive approach to landscape integration with residential development. In this project, the garden contributes as much to the character of the street and broader precinct as it does to the enjoyment of the buildings tenants. The studied integration of landscape and architecture also provides environmental benefits including reduction of the heat island effect, stormwater absorption and creation of urban habitat.

Fundamentally the Landscape Architectural design sets out to provide a stimulating environment responsive to the scale of the development that adheres to the local planning controls, including ESD initiatives and native planting requirements. Environmentally, the diversity of landscape expressions and significant site coverage will help reclaim a site that is predominantly carparking into a habitat for local flora and fauna.

Levels one and two will be a mix two and three-bedroom apartments, ranging from 90 sqm to 120 sqm

Byron Bay set for new apartments as plans for $52 million mixed-use Jonson Street precinct lodged

EXPERT OPINION

Multiple factors are driving our real estate markets but it can all be distilled down to this: we have shortages of everything.

Why are prices rising? Because there&rsquo;s a shortage of listings, relative to buyer demand.

Why are rents rising? Because there&rsquo;s a chronic shortage of rental properties.

Why are building costs rising? Because there&rsquo;s a shortage of everything and everybody involved in the creation of new dwellings.

Who&rsquo;s responsible for these situations? The politicians and bureaucrats who love to tinker at the edges of our property markets but never think beyond the press conference.

These shortages and their consequences create serious issues for Australians and they warrant urgent action. But there&rsquo;s no evidence that the politicians are even aware there&rsquo;s a problem.

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They&rsquo;re all obsessed with the pandemic and haven&rsquo;t noticed the multitude of tenants who can&rsquo;t find a rental property at any price or the prospective owners of a newly-built home who can&rsquo;t proceed because they can&rsquo;t find an available builder - or the one they have can&rsquo;t get the materials they need.

We have a serious undersupply of rental properties because investors have been discouraged by a series of decisions and policies by politicians and bureaucrats over the past five years.

Investors have been largely sitting on the sidelines and right now there are more investors selling than buying.

The shortage of rental properties is dire. Most postcodes across Australia now have vacancy rates below 1% and many are closer to zero than 1%.

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Anyone who makes a rental property available and stages an open house will have queues of applicants and people offering more than the asking rental.

That&rsquo;s why rents are rising. Those who react to the symptoms rather than the causes are calling for controls on rents, but that will make the problem worse, by further deterring investors who are an essential part of this equation.

Placing a cap of rentals is no help to desperate individuals and families who can&rsquo;t find a rental property at any price.

When it comes to building new homes, in desirable locations, there are crippling shortages of everything that forms part of the process. The first issue is getting your foot on a block of land. In many places, everything has been sold and it takes time for developers to create new supply of land that&rsquo;s ready to be sold.

If you do have a block of land with your name on it, the next issue is trying to find a builder who&rsquo;s not booked out for the next year or more.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=89720 project_image_fid=147504]

If you have a builder, it&rsquo;s highly likely they can&rsquo;t do the job any time soon because they can&rsquo;t get steel or timber or bricks. Supply chains have been disrupted by the heavy demand and by the pandemic.

This means the cost of building your home is rising by the week. A lot.

If you&#39;re fortunate enough to have a fixed price contract locked in, your builder has a massive problem because they may be forced to build the home at a significant loss because their costs are going through the roof, pun intended.

Having the cost and completion date locked into a contract is worth little if your builder goes broke in mid-project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102256 project_image_fid=163757]

Who caused this shemozzle? The idiot politicians who patted themselves on the back for bringing in the HomeBuilder handout, but didn&#39;t bother to consider the impact that would have on supply chains.

This has become a big problem for everyone in the market &ndash; consumers, builders, suppliers, selling agents, buyers&rsquo; agents, everyone.

It&rsquo;s all part of a dynamic mix of factors that is forcing up the price of real estate almost everywhere in Australia.

Multiple factors are driving our real estate markets, but it can all be distilled down to this: we have shortages of everything



terryryder

Shortages of listings, rentals and approvals driving the property market: Hotspotting's Terry Ryder

Orchard Piper has secured a 1000 square metre Toorak Road, Toorak development site.

Its plans to build a complex with apartments, offices and retail.

The amalgamated site sits at the corner of 424-426 Toorak Road and 109 Mathoura Road.

Orchard Piper, founded by Rick Gronow and Luke McKie, reportedly spent two years negotiating with the Butler and Mendleson families to amalgamate the six properties.

One has been run as a cosmetic surgery clinic.

Orchard Piper has commissioned Jolson Architecture &amp; Interiors to design a seven-storey building with the apartments fronting Mathoura Road.

&quot;This site, being the most prominent, north-facing corner of [Toorak] village, presents an opportunity for us to invest in the area in a really tangible, long-term way,&quot; Mr McKie told The Australian Financial Review.

Plans have yet to be lodged with Stonnington Council with construction expected to begin in late 2022.

Orchard Piper secured the suburb&#39;s first double-digit sale in 2018 when the penthouse at 29 Washington Street sold for $14 million. The 1000sq m third-floor space boasted a pool, yoga room, sauna and 1300-bottle wine cellar, plus a lift from its four-car garage.&nbsp;

The 29 Washington Street penthouse sale almost doubled the previous record of $8.26 million at The Springfield, 19 apartments on the corner of Springfield Avenue and Orrong Road designed by K2LD Architects&rsquo; Tisha Lee for Chapter Group.&nbsp;

Before that, in 2015, there was a $6.15 million sale on the third floor of the Douglas Street Art Deco-inspired Le Nouveau.

Mathoura Road has seen pricey apartment projects in recent years including Palais Toorak, conceived by Craig Easton of Easton Projects, with collaboration from architect Rob Mills, the SJB Interiors director Andrew Parr and garden designer Paul Bangay.

It is a four storey block of seven residences at 86 Mathoura Road.

Local pharmacist C. Wallis &amp; Son, which has occupied the corner store at 426 Toorak Road since 1981 opposite the Tok H Centre, has signed a pre-lease agreement t stay on at the location after construction.

Orchard Piper have commissioned Jolson Architecture & Interiors to work on the design

jchancellor

Orchard Piper propose luxury Toorak Road, Toorak corner apartment project

The ASX-listed property developer Mirvac have increased their residential pipeline in Melbourne for 2022, acquiring a site on the tightly held Princes Park precinct alongside Brunswick&#39;s Princess Hill.

The purchase comes as Mirvac release&nbsp;the final stage of their sought-after Doncaster precinct, Apartments of Tullamore.

FORME Apartments, the last stage of the 47 hectare masterplanned community,&nbsp;are inspired by nature, with garden spaces by award-winning landscape designer Paul Bangay.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100322 project_image_fid=163036]

The 699 Park Street&nbsp;development, to be known as Park Street, will home around 200 apartments and is expected to launch to the market in mid-2022, with construction anticipated to commence later that year.

Formerly a hotel, the 6,495 sqm site features uninterrupted park and city views and around 100 metre frontage to Princes Park. It is located within walking distance to Brunswick and Carlton North. The&nbsp;University of Melbourne and the Royal Hospital precinct are part of the local neighbourhood.

Mirvac&rsquo;s Head of Residential, Stuart Penklis, says that the prestigious Park Street site offers an opportunity for Mirvac to strategically expand its pipeline and create a new legacy project at the northern gateway to Melbourne.

&ldquo;Mirvac is focused on diversifying its portfolio across a range of different markets and is always looking for opportunities to create high-quality apartment offerings,&quot; Penklis said.

&quot;In many ways the Park Street site echoes the essence of East Melbourne, an outstanding location with access to the best cultural amenity, right on the cusp of Melbourne&rsquo;s CBD.&quot;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=100322 project_image_fid=163028]

Penklis says the demand from local owner-occupiers looking for quality apartments in well serviced locations continues, but points to a recent uptick in right-sizers.

&quot;Families, couples and singles looking for larger apartments that offer a low maintenance, secure lifestyle, close to amenity &ndash; something that Park Street will offer in abundance,&rdquo; Penklis says.

There were plans already in place for 699 Park Street by Architectus for JW Land, however Mirvac are still finalising the scheme of what they want to create.

The 699 Park Street development will home around 200 apartments and is expected to launch to the market in mid-2022

Mirvac bolster 2022 apartment development pipeline with Park Street, Brunswick site purchase

The Melbourne-based builder developer Cornus has seen solid buyer demand in its Carnegie apartment development, Cornus Carnegie.

Around 20 per cent have sold since the launch, with the majority&nbsp;of the 61 two and three bedroom apartments snapped up by first home buyers who took advantage of government incentives earlier in the year.

Most of the apartments that have sold have been close to the $600,000 mark, which qualified for the first home buyer grant.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=96653 project_image_fid=158222]

Cornus were expecting a surge in first home buyers, and don&#39;t expect the appetite from first home buyers to&nbsp;cool off despite the government grants expiring at the end of June.

As house prices across Melbourne continue to rise, Cornus are receiving interest from buyers who have been priced out of the housing market and are keen on the fixed price for off the plan apartments.

The surge in the housing market however has seen the emergence of the downsizer, who are selling their larger homes at premium prices and looking to downsize to larger apartments.

Cornus told Urban that a lot of first home buyers had been drawn to Cornus Carnegie due to the location of the development.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=96653 project_image_fid=158220]

&quot;It&#39;s a really popular area and doesn&#39;t really have many properties for sale,&quot; Cornus said.

&quot;The coveted suburb has great amenities and is great for young people, with good restaurants, bars and cafes.&quot;

Two bedroom apartments in Cornus Carnegie start from $575,000, with the three bedroom apartments priced from $849,000. Completion is slated for the end of 2022.

Cornus has also recently launched Cornus Oakleigh, in the neighbouring suburb.

The development of 69 apartments and 10 townhouses has prices starting from $449,000 for one bedroom apartments, $549,000 for two beds and $789,000 for three bedroom apartments.

The three bedroom, two bathroom townhouses start at $1.15 million.

&nbsp;

Most of the apartments that have sold have been close to the $600,000 mark, which qualified for the first home buyer grant

Why first home buyers are snapping up apartments in Cornus Carnegie

Property buyers keen on buying an apartment&nbsp;in the City of Melbourne were given a shot in the arm at the Victorian Budget last month.

Prospective buyers seeking established apartments in the CBD&nbsp;which have been completed for over 12 months&nbsp;will face no stamp duty on their purchases, as long as the purchase price is under $1 million.

Apartment sales at that price could save buyers up to $55,000 in stamp duty.

The news has been particularly welcomed by first home buyers, who so far this year have seen the&nbsp;HomeBuilder grant expire which had been driving a lot of demand to buy new property.

At the end of June, first home buyers will also see the 50 per cent stamp duty waivers for new property under $1 million expire, as well as the 25 per cent discount of stamp duty for new homes.

Urban have put together the best four best&nbsp;CBD apartment towers which offer the stamp duty.&nbsp;

<h2>Melbourne Square</h2>

One bedroom apartments from $487,000, two bedroom apartments from $642,000.

Melbourne Square on Southbank&#39;s Kavanagh Street&nbsp;is the latest mixed-use development by&nbsp;OSK Property.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929 project_image_fid=137897]

The five-acre prominent gateway precinct&nbsp;has been has been&nbsp;strategically located within proximity to the best education available in Australia including as The University of Melbourne, RMIT University and Swinburne University, as well as the city&rsquo;s iconic arts, entertainment and shopping havens such as the National Gallery of Victoria, Southbank Theatre, Crown Casino, South Melbourne Market, Southgate Shopping Centre and Collins Street.

Cox Architecture designed the precinct, as well as the residential component of Melbourne Square, a pair of towers rising above a terraced podium. The collection of apartments across the East and West towers are fitted out with interiors by Carr Design.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929 project_image_fid=137903]

There are four&nbsp;distinct design themes by Coco Republic to choose from, The Manhattan, which offers a sophisticated dark palette,&nbsp;Bondi, which has a coastal feel, Paris, which boasts timeless luxury, and Soho, which showcases monochromatic industrial style.&nbsp;

The brand new selection of apartment&nbsp;feature kitchens that have&nbsp;marble block island benches, Kohler tapware, state-of-the-art Miele appliances, a five-burner gas hob&nbsp;and DynaCool refrigeration.

The resident amenities feature an indoor pool with uninterrupted views spanning the Melbourne eastern skyline, a sauna&nbsp;and a yoga studio, a gym, private dining areas and kitchen, a state-of-the-art games simulator and a music room and games room.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929 project_image_fid=137896]

<h2>Melbourne Quarter</h2>

One-bedroom apartments from $458,000, two-bedroom apartments from $607,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3459 project_image_fid=147572]

Melbourne Quarter is the masterplan-like community&nbsp;of the award-winning national developer Lendlease.

The apartment development has been designed by the international design firm&nbsp;Fender Katsalidis, one of the most sought-after design firm&#39;s across the globe.

The 2.5 hectare Flinders Street&nbsp;development will feature a&nbsp;public open space&nbsp;with a mix of both retail and parkland.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3459 project_image_fid=147571]

So far the East Tower has been completed. That homes&nbsp;Club MQ, three&nbsp;whole-floors of resort-style amenities&nbsp;including theatrette, private dining, indoor pool, gym and spa.

<h2>Melbourne Grand</h2>

One-bedroom apartments from $489,000, two-bedroom apartments from $569,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3490 project_image_fid=93147]

Melbourne Grand is the award-winning development from Central Equity.

The $470 million tower&nbsp;at 560 Lonsdale, in the heart of the CBD,&nbsp;has a striking curved facade thanks to its design&nbsp;by high-profile architects Guilford Bell + Graham Fisher and its build by&nbsp;Multiplex.

The curved tower&nbsp;features a glittering facade, with a wave-like joinery motif, giving the tower a striking point of difference.&nbsp;

Melbourne Grand&nbsp;features a string of hotel-style amenities which take up the whole of the 10th level.&nbsp;As well as an indoor poor, gym and yoga studio, there&#39;s a residents&#39; lounge with a banquet room and coffee bar, as well as a 17-seat luxury theatre.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3490 project_image_fid=139999]

The apartments, which all have a 7.2 star average energy rating, span up to 120 sqm and feature high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows with motorised blinds.

Most living areas have their own study nook with a built-in desk and a balcony with panoramic city views off the living space. Each kitchen is fitted with Miele appliances and integrated aircon comes as standard.

<h2>The Peak</h2>

One-bedroom apartments from $483,000, two-bedroom apartments from $618,000

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2905 project_image_fid=162740]

Only just falling in to the stamp duty waiver having been completed 12 months ago is The Peak, the latest development from Auriton Group.

The Peak&#39;s location is one of the key selling points,&nbsp;located on the quiet side of the Melbourne CBD at 141 La Trobe Street with views to Carlton Gardens.

It&#39;s also set near Spring Street, one of Melbourne&#39;s most expensive street&#39;s for apartments which&nbsp;far surpass those in The Peak.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2905 project_image_fid=163853]

There are 177 units in the 42 level tower, with a floor plate of just four apartments per floor, giving each unit a corner aspect.

Each of the remaining units have a 3D Tour.

The new stamp duty waivers could save buyers up to $55,000 on new apartments

The best Melbourne CBD apartments for sale with no stamp duty

With so much choice, searching for property can be a long and arduous process for some.

They can consume the whole of a Saturday, driving around properties, cramming through the door and spending five minutes in the property, maybe one minute with the agent in the company of others, before having to make the decision whether you want to buy.

Purchasing an apartment off the plan&nbsp;offers a different approach to property buying, through a more hands on and personable approach at the developers display suite of one of the apartments in the building.

Display suites give prospective buyers an insight as to how their apartment will look when construction is completed.

There are very different questions to ask when talking to an agent about an off the plan property purchase compared to an established property. Urban has wrapped up the top questions to ask when buying an off the plan apartment.

1. Who built the display, and will they be the same builder who will construct the development?

When buying any home, build quality is an important consideration.

The display suites are created to give prospective buyers an insights in to exactly what their apartment will look like on completion.&nbsp;

<a href="/developments/melbourne-vic?source_news_article_id=101649&amp;ref=news_body_link"><img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/template_photoshop_melbournecbd_0.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

Wiser developers appoint the builder before creating the display suite and get&nbsp;the builder to construct the space which gives buyers further peace of mind when it comes to signing on the dotted line.

Knowing the builder this early one as well helps as then you can check the builder&#39;s track record of developments within the area, or even within the state. Go and visit some of the former developments, and see how close the completed build is compared to the renders which are usually available online.

2. Any developer incentives or stamp duty savings for the apartment I&#39;m looking at buying?

One of the biggest questions - how much money can I be saving?

Agents and developers are in the best position to highlight current government incentives which could help you shave thousands off your apartment purchase.&nbsp;

There may also be limited-time developer incentives if you buy the apartment before a certain date.

3. Is there a sunset clause in the contract? And when was the last time the developer enforced it?

A sunset clause is one of the most talked about contract stipulations&nbsp;in off the plan property.

Essentially, in the contract a developer will put&nbsp;a date on completion, which usually is well past the date the developers actually think&nbsp;construction will complete.

That&#39;s because if construction isn&#39;t completed before the date, the buyer, or the developer, have the legal right to pull out of the deal, with the buyer receiving their full deposit back.

The developer doesn&#39;t want to run over this date, in case the market dropped during construction and buyers want to pull out because their apartment is now worth less than when they paid.

On the flip side, and there have been occasions when this has happened which is why buyers need to be careful,&nbsp;developers can, and&nbsp;have, purposefully ran over the construction date so they can claim the apartment back. This can be due to price rises over the same period.

The developer would have the right to take the apartment back and then sell the apartment for a higher price.

<a href="/developments/southbank-vic-3006"><img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/template_photoshop_southbank.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

4. What are the strata fees, and are they fixed?

Apart from the mortgage on the apartment, strata fees are one of the biggest ongoing fees for apartment owners.

It is important to know when going in to buying an apartment what the strata fees are, and more importantly whether they are fixed or whether there are plans for them to fluctuate.

The good news for off the plan apartments buyers, compared to those buying established apartments, is that the funds in the strata kitty, generally, won&#39;t have to be used to fix issues in the building given it will have only recently have been built and will be covered by a number of insurances.

Those buying apartments in buildings that may be 40 or 50 years old are likely to see the strata fund spent on maintaining and updating the building.

5. Who have been the predominant buyers in the apartment?

If you are intending on living in the apartment you buy and you&nbsp;want to live in the same development as people&nbsp;like you, whether a young professional, down-sizer or family, ask how many apartments have sold and to which demographic.

If there have been a number of investor purchasers in the development, ask how many and why the agent thinks this is the case.

At this point it will also be worth asking what the forecasted rental yield and rental income per week estimate they are quoting. Plans might change during construction of the development and the apartment may become an investment down the line.

<a href="/developments/docklands-vic-3008"><img alt="" height="800" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/template_photoshop_docklands.jpg" width="1200" /></a>

6. Can I upgrade&nbsp;my apartment?

Depending on how far out the developer is from construction, many developers are open to buyers customising their apartments.

Generally there might not be whole sale changes which are wanted to be made by a buyer. Developers who have a solid pipeline of projects tend to know what they&#39;re doing when positioning bedrooms and bathrooms etc.

It might be that you&#39;d rather the built in kitchen appliances located elsewhere in the kitchen as to what has been mocked up in the display suite.

The question is also worth asking because some developers offer extra upgrade packages which could set your apartment from the rest. Think fixed outdoor barbecue kitchens, fireplaces, built-in study nooks or an upgrade in kitchen appliances.

There&#39;s of course the potential to buy neighbouring apartments and amalgamate before they are constructed as two apartments. The amalgamation, despite costing more than just a single&nbsp;apartment, will likely become bigger than that of any of the other&nbsp;apartments in the development.

Display suites give prospective buyers an insight as to how their apartment will look when construction is completed.

What an off the plan buyer needs to ask when visiting a display suite

Sky Garden is the completed Glen Waverley residential complex developed by Golden Age Group.

Spanning&nbsp;three towers designed by the regarded architecture firm Rothelowman, Sky Garden sits above the new and improved $430 million redevelopment of&nbsp;The Glen shopping centre.

The communal showpiece is the aptly named sky garden. Located above the podium levels linking each tower, the sky garden features&nbsp;a bar,&nbsp;kitchen and private dining spaces,, veggie gardens, a kids playground and large lawns with water features.

Urban recently sat down with Golden Age&#39;s sales and marketing director Dandan Zhao&nbsp;to discuss the project.

Why did you choose to acquire the residential element of The Glen from Vicinity?

Sky Garden is a landmark and unpreceded feat of a project we are incredibly proud of. At Golden Age, we are always looking for new ways to do things and we saw an opportunity to partner with Vicinity Centres to deliver a residential component to an existing shopping precinct in a way that has never been done before in Australia, making this project the first of its kind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=148771]

Developing within air rights was a fairly new phenomenon within Australia when we launched Sky Garden in 2018 but its location ticked all the boxes. For all stakeholders involved, including Vicinity, it was an incredibly ambitious project with a combined value close to $1 billion but it has paid off in spades.

Did you keep the same architecture plans? If not - what was the design brief for Rothelowman?&nbsp; (If so - what did you like about the plans?)

When we bought the air rights site from Vicinity, the development contained three towers (A/B/C). Originally, Towers A &amp; B were conjoined in an elbow shape almost reading as a large L-shaped building.

We briefed Rothelowman to create three distinctive buildings of three different characters based on the five natural elements. This created separation between the buildings so that they architecturally stood on their own with three different glazing colours.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=148765]

Both the indoor and outdoor common area amenities were also redesigned to suit our vision for Sky Garden and the garden itself was completely overhauled taking on numerous iterations. We also replanned the apartments so that they catered to the size and layout that our target market prefers, taking experience from our past projects including Sky One.

<a href="/news/vic/the-design-details-how-rothelowman-designed-glen-waverleys-sky-garden">Read more: How Rothelowman designed Sky Garden</a>

What were the key features you wanted to achieve in the development? 

It is a unique project as it is the first time an air-rights transfer above a shopping mall has allowed for a development of such scale within Australia - it&rsquo;s also reflective of a growing trend towards the Asian &lsquo;apartments above mall&rsquo; model.

Designed in collaboration with multi-award winning architect Rothelowman, interiors by DKO Architecture, and featuring landscaping by Aspect Studios, Sky Garden originally launched to market with 555 one, two and three-bedroom spacious residences across three towers. The number of residences has since dwindled to 536 apartments due to demand from downsizers seeking larger floor plans, leading to a number of amalgamations.

Residents have access to a 4,000 square metre outdoor podium garden complete with a relaxation zone, entertainment lounges, BBQs, vegetable gardens, a designated children&rsquo;s play area and outdoor fitness areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=148759]

Other amenities include a luxurious pool, a two-storey fully equipped gym, private dining rooms with BBQ in the terrace which can be booked for private functions, a private cinema, two gaming rooms and a library, alongside more than 240 speciality retail stores and a fresh food market hall situated in The Glen below.

Where have buyers come from, and who is the development appealing to?

The majority of buyers come from local suburbs, particularly the South Eastern suburbs that are within 10 km of the project.

We&rsquo;ve had buyers who are local and want to be within walking distance to Glen Waverley Secondary College or Glen Waverley Primary, including families and grandparents, as well as downsizers who like the convenience of living atop a world-class shopping centre and don&rsquo;t want to sacrifice their lifestyle by moving into a small and standalone apartment.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=148829]

Then we have professionals who either work nearby or work in the city and are attracted to the connectivity of the project - it has been a true assortment of buyers which is expected given the nature of this project, it quite literally caters to all buyer demographics.

In many cases, families and friends have bought together. There are also people who bought for their parents to downsize, or for children as their first home. Many investors purchased with the idea that this could be their future retirement option or holiday home.

Numerous investors have selected Sky Garden over other projects because they believed its location, amenities and quality would guarantee appreciation overtime.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=2881 project_image_fid=162989]

[smartcode_project_cta: project_id=2881]

Sky Garden is the completed Glen Waverley residential complex developed by Golden Age Group

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