<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/otium-parkdale-123-125-como-parade-east-parkdale-vic-3195">Otium Parkdale</a>, the 13-residence boutique development by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/huxtable-property">Huxtable Property</a>, has entered its final stages of delivery, with completion expected within the coming month and more than half of the residences sold.

The Como Parade East project is nearing the finish line at a time when opportunities to purchase new apartments in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parkdale-vic-3195">Parkdale</a> remain exceptionally limited. Fewer than 10 per cent of dwellings in the bayside suburb are apartments, making developments like Otium a relatively rare addition to a market traditionally dominated by detached housing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5427]

The three-level development comprises 13 residences, including ten two-bedroom apartments and three larger three-bedroom homes, all positioned above a secure basement car park.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/almeida-architects">Almeida Architects</a> with a strong connection to its coastal surroundings, Otium combines red brick, exposed concrete and dark metal detailing with integrated landscaping and greenery. Expansive glazing, generous balconies and terraces have been incorporated throughout the design to maximise natural light and reinforce indoor-outdoor living.

Inside, the residences feature engineered European oak flooring, natural and reconstituted stone benchtops, Bosch kitchen appliances, ducted heating and cooling, lift access and secure entry systems. The larger three-bedroom residences on the upper level have been designed with house-like proportions, while the two-bedroom apartments prioritise functionality, flexibility and low-maintenance living.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134974 project_image_fid=5421]

The project is now in its final stages, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/builders/labco">Labco</a> completing the remaining landscaping and external finishing works following the completion of the residences' interiors.

Otium's location within the heart of Parkdale continues to underpin its appeal. Residents will be just steps from local cafés, restaurants, shops and the newly elevated Parkdale Station, while the beach is less than a kilometre away.

With the project tracking ahead of schedule, buyers can currently secure a residence with a five per cent deposit and benefit from settlement terms of up to eight months. The advanced stage of construction also provides buyers with the opportunity to walk through the near-complete residences and experience the quality and finishes firsthand ahead of completion.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134974]

Joel Robinson

Otium Parkdale enters final month before completion as rare apartment opportunity nears sellout

A new boutique apartment development is entering the market in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chermside-qld-4032">Chermside</a>, with Brisbane-based developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/ausdev">Ausdev</a> bringing 33 residences to a well-connected pocket of Brisbane's north.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">Parkdrive Apartments</a>, at 25 Sammells Drive, will comprise a mix of one- and two-bedroom residences positioned within walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, and Bradbury Park.

Established in 1989, Ausdev has a long-standing presence across both development and construction, with Parkdrive Apartments representing its latest residential project in Brisbane's northern suburbs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363778]

The development has been designed around open-plan living and natural light, with residences featuring stone benchtops, timber cabinetry, BOSCH appliances, and private balconies that extend the living areas outdoors.

Kitchens are positioned as the centrepiece of the homes, incorporating natural material palettes and integrated appliances, while bathrooms have been designed with a focus on functionality and understated finishes.

Residents will have access to a communal barbecue and entertaining area on Level 3, providing shared outdoor space within the development. Secure parking and lift access are also incorporated into the building.

The project will deliver a limited collection of 33 apartments, with one-bedroom residences priced from $749,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Beyond the building itself, the location places residents within easy reach of several of Chermside's key amenities. Bradbury Park is around 350 metres away, while Westfield Chermside is approximately 1.3 kilometres from the site. The Prince Charles Hospital is located within 750 metres, and the Chermside Bus Interchange is around 1.5 kilometres away, providing connections across Brisbane.

Parkdrive Apartments adds to the growing residential pipeline in Chermside, a suburb that continues to evolve as a major retail, healthcare, and transport hub for Brisbane's north.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152125]

Ausdev introduces boutique Parkdrive Apartments to Chermside's growing centre

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/skymark-group">Skymark</a>'s boutique Cronulla development Solis has secured a 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy through Resilience Insurance, providing buyers of the 16-residence building on Ewos Parade with structural and waterproofing protection that extends a decade beyond the building's completion.

Currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/solis-cronulla-8-ewos-parade-cronulla-nsw-2230">Solis</a> is one of a small number of new developments in the Sutherland Shire to carry Resilience LDI coverage, a distinction that carries increasing weight as buyer confidence in the off-the-plan sector continues to be shaped by how developers stand behind their product.

Latent Defects Insurance, which entered the Australian market in 2022 when Resilience Insurance was approved to offer the cover, protects buyers against major structural or waterproofing defects for ten years post-completion. Unlike traditional statutory warranties, it operates as a first-resort policy, if a covered defect arises, the insurer responds directly, without the buyer needing to pursue the builder or developer through a lengthy claims process.

Resilience Insurance CEO Corey Nugent has noted that the product addresses something fundamental to the new apartment market.

"The overarching feedback from prospective buyers in the new development space is that they want more confidence and assurances around the quality of the build," Nugent says.

"Resilience Insurance Latent Defects Insurance not only gives them complete peace of mind for 10 years, but it shows the developer they are buying from is standing by their product."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370898]

For Solis, the Resilience LDI policy adds a meaningful layer of accountability to an already considered project. The development comprises nine two-bedroom and seven three-bedroom residences, including one dual-level three-bedroom apartment, across a five-storey building on Ewos Parade, positioned between Shelly Beach and South Cronulla.

Garden apartments connect directly to private landscaped courtyards, while upper-level homes capture beach views to the east from level four and above.&nbsp;

All 16 residences include at least one balcony or courtyard, and select apartments on the upper floors feature bar areas and secondary flexible living spaces.

Hiba Sander, Managing Director of Skymark, says Solis offers a rare balance, nestled between the quiet beauty of secluded beaches and the lively charm of South Cronulla's esplanade.

"It's a place to choose your pace and live gracefully, seaside'," Sander says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370900]

The architecture, designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ida-design-group">IDA Design Group</a>'s Michael Trinh, draws from the natural erosion patterns of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/cronulla-nsw-2230">Cronulla</a>'s sandstone headlands, translating the organic forms of the coastline into soft curves, pavilion-style massing, and a material palette chosen for longevity in a salt-tinged environment.&nbsp;

Textured natural stone, soft renders, and timber-look battens reference the tones of the surrounding cliffs, while the building has been oriented to maximise natural light and passive ventilation, with primary living spaces facing north and east to capture morning sun and sea breezes.

"At Solis, our aim was to create architecture that feels quietly confident, grounded in natural materials like stone and timber, and elevated by light and landscape," Trinh says.&nbsp;

"The buildings are designed to sit gently within their coastal surrounds, with expansive glazing and abundant greenery creating a seamless dialogue between inside and out."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370897]

Interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/hot-black">Hot Black</a> carry the same material language through to every room. Kitchens feature integrated Gaggenau appliances, sculpted stone benchtops, and Lo &amp; Co joinery, while bathrooms feature natural stone, timber, and brushed metal finishes.&nbsp;

Hot Black Founder and Design Director Sophie Safrin describes the intent as one of considered restraint: "At Solis, every detail has been thoughtfully considered to create a timeless coastal retreat, calm, refined, and effortlessly liveable. From natural finishes to seamless indoor-outdoor flow, Solis offers a quiet elegance that's deeply connected to its surroundings.

The landscape, designed by Julian Brady of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/sitedesignstudios">Site Design Studios</a>, treats green space as an integral part of the resident experience rather than an afterthought.&nbsp;

"Gentle curves and layered native plantings mirror the ebb and flow of the ocean," Julian Brady says, "creating a serene connection between architecture and place."&nbsp;

Coco Republic has provided bespoke furniture packages tailored to the project's coastal palette.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150499 project_image_fid=370899]

Skymark has an established track record in the Sutherland Shire, with a portfolio spanning Cronulla, Woolooware and Burraneer that includes Isla, Sylva, Bask, Shells, Sula and Mist. Securing LDI on Solis reflects a broader shift in how the developer is positioning its buildings to buyers, at a time when Resilience Insurance expects the policy to become mandatory in New South Wales by 2028.

Sales at Solis are launching soon through Ray White Projects, with an official event scheduled for 11 June. Enquire for more information.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150499]

Skymark takes out 10-year Resilience Insurance LDI at Solis Cronulla

Investors may soon find themselves with fewer reasons to buy established property and more incentives to look towards the new apartment market.

Proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions would see new and off-the-plan apartments retain access to the tax benefits, while established properties would miss out, creating a clear advantage for buyers purchasing newly built housing.

The policy direction aligns with what many developers have been saying for several years. Australia needs more housing supply, and governments are increasingly looking for ways to encourage investment into new stock rather than existing homes.

The challenge for investors is that suitable product is becoming harder to find.

For much of the last decade, one-bedroom apartments were the cornerstone of investor demand. They offered a lower entry price, strong rental appeal, and were a common feature across most apartment developments.

Today, the development pipeline looks very different.

Across both New South Wales and South East Queensland, developers are increasingly targeting owner-occupiers and downsizers, delivering larger two, three and four-bedroom apartments in response to changing buyer preferences. While one-bedroom apartments still exist, they now form a much smaller portion of many new projects.

That shift has created a shortage of investor-friendly stock, particularly in well-located projects close to transport, employment hubs and lifestyle amenity.

At the same time, rising apartment prices have pushed many new developments beyond the reach of traditional investors. On the Gold Coast and across South East Queensland, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find new apartments priced around the $1 million mark, particularly those offering strong rental fundamentals and long-term growth prospects.

We've rounded up four new apartment developments where investors can still secure a foothold in the market for around $1 million or less.

<h2 data-end="1140" data-start="844">Flourish Soleira</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $1.07 million</h2>

Popular Palm Beach developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa</a> is soon to officially launch its newest local apartment development, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-1150-1154-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a>.

The one-bedroom apartments in the building were only offered to first home buyers rather than investors, and all of those have been snapped up. The two-bedroom apartments will start from $1.07 million, and the three-bedrooms, still a good investment given the popularity of Palm Beach for owner-occupiers, starting at $2,045,000.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370964]

Flourish Soliera will comprise 153 apartments across two buildings, connected by a skybridge, the first ever delivered in the suburb.

True to Sherpa's booming Flourish brand of apartment projects, Flourish Soleira will have extensive rooftop amenity across both buildings including a&nbsp;wellness centre with gym, work from home, yoga, pilates, a&nbsp;heated pool, private dining rooms, pizza oven and barbecues, basketball court, and golf simulator.

<h2>Corallo, Palm Beach</h2>

Priced from: $841,500

Nearby Flourish Soleira is Changfa Group's beachfront-inspired <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/corallo-palm-beach-5-palm-beach-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Corallo</a> development. They still have some one-bedroom apartments remaining, priced from $841,500.

The 105-apartment project on Palm Beach Avenue is otherwise dominated by larger two and three-bedroom residences, many of which are aimed at owner-occupiers and downsizers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112194 project_image_fid=808]

For investors, the appeal lies in Palm Beach's continued transformation from a laid-back beachside suburb into one of the Gold Coast's most sought-after residential markets. Residents at Corallo will be within walking distance of Palm Beach's surf beaches, the recreational amenity of Tallebudgera Creek, and the increasingly popular collection of cafes, restaurants and boutique retailers along the suburb's central dining precinct.

<h2>Corner House, Stones Corner</h2>

<h2>Priced from: $880,000</h2>

One of only two Brisbane apartment developments to make the list with prices under $1 million is DeMartini Fletcher's <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/corner-house-stones-corner-18-stoneham-street-stones-corner-qld-4120">Corner House development</a> in Stones Corner.

One-bedroom apartments start from $880,000 within the 88-apartment development, providing investors with exposure to one of Brisbane's most established inner-south locations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149098 project_image_fid=330594]

Stones Corner has long been supported by strong tenant demand due to its proximity to major employment and education destinations. The suburb sits less than five kilometres from Brisbane's CBD and is within easy reach of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Queensland Children's Hospital and several university campuses.

The project's location within a walkable urban village environment, surrounded by retail, dining and public transport infrastructure, continues to attract both professionals and healthcare workers seeking accommodation close to work.

Parkdrive Apartments, Chermside

Priced from: $749,000

The most affordable apartments across Brisbane's new and off the plan market are in Chermside where developer AusDev is selling one-bedroom apartments from $749,000, and two-beds from $929,000, at its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/parkdrive-apartments-chermside-25-sammells-drive-chermside-qld-4032">recently launched Parkdrive development</a>.

The development is strategically positioned in one of Brisbane's largest employment and retail precincts, placing residents within easy walking distance of Westfield Chermside, The Prince Charles Hospital, St Vincent's Private Hospital Northside and the suburb's major bus interchange.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152125 project_image_fid=363782]

Already under construction and scheduled for completion in early 2028, Parkdrive benefits from Chermside's ongoing evolution into Brisbane's northern metropolitan centre. The suburb continues to attract significant public and private investment, supporting population growth and underpinning long-term rental demand.

For investors focused on yield and tenant depth, the combination of healthcare, retail and transport infrastructure within close proximity provides a strong foundation for occupancy and rental performance.

Investors to turn to new apartments after federal government changes spark hunt for Queensland's best $1 million apartments

A mix of Gold Coast locals, fly-in, fly-out purchasers from Sydney and Melbourne, and Brisbane-based families has driven early sales success at Broadbeach's newest apartment tower, Lumara.

The 26-level project, a joint venture between builder-developer 5Point Projects and Bourke Projects, comprises just 37 luxury residences and is attracting a buyer profile that is looking for exclusivity, above the most amenity-rich suburb on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=364156]

Jamie Bourke, Director of Bourke Projects, says every buyer secured so far intends to use Lumara as a lock-up-and-leave residence, combining holiday use with the ability to work remotely when required.

“The size of the apartments, both half- and full-floor options, and the different zones within the floorplans, lends itself perfectly to dedicated home office setups and multi-generational family holidays,” Bourke says.

That flexibility has become a key drawcard for affluent buyers seeking a second residence on the Gold Coast without sacrificing the ability to conduct business away from their primary home base.

The absence of holiday letting within the building has also resonated strongly with purchasers.

“This type of buyer doesn't need to generate holiday rental income,” Bourke says. “They're paying for exclusivity, privacy and certainty around who their neighbours are.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366491]

The strong demand comes amid broader shifts in the high-end apartment market following the Federal Budget announcements in May.

“We were already seeing strong enquiry from high-net-worth buyers, but that has only accelerated since the policy changes,” Bourke says.

“A lot of those buyers are looking to place more capital into premium lifestyle assets rather than investment-grade stock that has been targeted by the Federal Government.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150454 project_image_fid=366486]

Designed by Cottee Parker, Lumara adopts a slender, sculpted form with an emphasis on natural materials suited to its beachfront setting. The architectural approach draws on coastal influences, with a palette of stone, timber and concrete selected for durability and the ability to weather over time.

Apartments are limited to three and four-bedroom configurations, with a maximum of two residences per floor through the mid-levels and a selection of full-floor and dual-level homes in the upper levels. All apartments are oriented to the north to maximise natural light, cross-ventilation and views across the ocean, city skyline and hinterland.

A two-level amenity offering is positioned high within the building on levels 20 and 21, conceived as a sky wellness retreat. Facilities include a magnesium pool, spa, sauna and steam rooms, alongside more social spaces such as a private dining room, resident lounge, workspaces and outdoor barbecue areas integrated with landscaped greenery.

The uppermost levels are reserved for larger-format residences, including several full-floor homes and a dual-level penthouse with its own private wellness features and recreational spaces.

&nbsp;

To give buyers confidence, 5Point and Bourke commenced construction ahead of the apartments launching to the market, a sure-fire way to prove they mean business, and the building will be delivered. They are targeting a 2028 completion date.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150454]

Locals, interstate holiday makers, drive early sales at Lumara, Broadbeach's newest luxury apartment tower

Skyscrapers

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Salta Properties' latest project is poised to clear a major planning hurdle at City of Melbourne's Future Planning Committee sitting this evening.

Council planners have recommended approval for Salta's mixed-use tower at 57-63 Exhibition Street. Replacing ASF House, the currently 203m tower with an expected development cost of $255 million may be required to ditch a number of floors in order to prevent overshadowing of Birrarung Marr.

City of Melbourne planners have requested it be reduced to 183 metres. A mix of hotel and residential, 57-63 Exhibition Street's fate is ultimately with the Planning Minister.

Should the final green light be given, Salta will be in a strong position to woo a hotel operator for the project's 185 suites which range between 34sqm and 82sqm. The immediate area surrounding the Exhibition Street proposal is already a magnet for premium hotel brands; Stamford Plaza, Sheraton Melbourne, Sofitel, Grand Hyatt and a pending NEXT outlet are present.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image16ex.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Exhibition Street perspective. Planning image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="465" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image16ex.jpg?itok=Xr7PMg0c" title="Exhibition Street perspective. Planning image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Exhibition Street perspective. Planning image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>57-63 Exhibition Street's ground plane treatment has seen a laneway inserted, connecting Strachan Lane and Chester Lane. Incidentally Strachan Lane was subject to a <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/chequerboard-art-in-melbournes-strachan-lane-washed-away/news-story/8807c8fc73d039ab1ef4049b3ddc4013">creative urban art installation</a> earlier this year which riled Council.

Report documents talk of the the "considered placement of openings and fine detailing in the (proposal's) podium facade and the ramp’s internal elevations, this alluring detail and materiality becomes the focus of Chester Lane when experienced from Flinders Lane, enticing passers by to explore further." The design also allows for adjacent properties to be redeveloped in an equitable manner.

City of Melbourne planners have called for further design changes in addition to the slight height decrease. Fenestration to the southern boundary wall above a height of 80 metres has been sought, along with further detail regarding the proposal's ground floor plane.

<blockquote>
Broadly, the proposed development exhibits a high quality design, providing a podium that will successfully integrate with the height and detailing of adjacent graded historic buildings in addition to providing a high degree of activation and site permeability. The tower component achieves adequate separation and setbacks, and the design exhibits excellent internal amenity.

Subject to the recommended conditions, it is considered that the subject site can support a building of this scale, and the proposal will make a positive contribution to Exhibition Street and Melbourne’s City
<cite>Report to the Future Melbourne (Planning) Committee</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image21_13.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Faceted to the floor. Planning image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="507" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image21_13.jpg?itok=UD8RcfTo" title="Faceted to the floor. Planning image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Faceted to the floor. Planning image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>For Salta, the nod from Council tonight is a major step toward securing approval for the site which was entered into a joint venture with Malaysia’s Asia One. Although Asia One held the site outright initially, scant little has been heard from the developer since the joint venture was announced; perhaps a coincidence but Salta Properties Pty Ltd is the sole entity listed within the report to Council.

Regardless, 57-63 Exhibition Street adds to Salta's pending apartment development pipeline.

Their Park House project at 627 Victoria Street, Abbotsford has seen Icon Co installed as preferred builder, with a start to the 500 plus apartment build imminent. Also on the radar is 695-699 La Trobe Street, a 28 level tower containing rental apartments and hotel suites.

Upon approval, 57-63 Exhibition Street would join 249-261 Queens Parade, Clifton Hill and additional apartment projects within the Salta's Victoria Gardens precinct as future projects.
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silvermb

CoM moves to provide clearance for 63 Exhibition's lofty ambitions

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Over the course of the last week, Malaysian developer S P Setia has landed two telling blows in Melbourne's apartment market, further enhancing its stature locally.

Malaysian publication The Edge Markets has in recent days reported that the developer has secured 111-125 A’Beckett Street for a price of $61 million. Complete with permit for an Elenberg Fraser-designed apartment tower spanning 200 plus metres, the A'Beckett Street plot of 1,714sqm is the developer's sixth Melbourne foray.

CBRE City Sales recently ran an Expression of Interest campaign for the site which was initially controlled by Singaporean outfit Tong Eng Group. The scheme had been dubbed Myriad Melbourne prior to S P Setia's involvement.

The Edge Markets <a href="http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/s-p-setia-acquires-sixth-parcel-land-melbourne-rm137-bil-project">reported</a> S P Setia's CEO and president, Datuk Khor Chap Jen as stating the following:

<blockquote>
We are truly pleased and happy with this fantastic news. This is another golden opportunity for S P Setia to deliver yet another development par excellence in Melbourne, the world's most livable city for the sixth year in a row.

The winning bid reaffirms Setia’s long-term commitment and confidence in the Australian real estate market. We remain optimistic on the property market in Australia and will continue to look out for more acquisition opportunities.
<cite>Datuk Khor Chap Jen, CEO, S P Setia</cite>
</blockquote>

In its currently approved form S P Setia can pursue 632 apartments within their new project.

According to The Edge Markets, 111-125 A'Beckett Street will be launched this year and will carry an estimated gross development value of $419 million.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image5_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="111-125 A'Beckett Street. Image: CBRE City Sales"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="725" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image5_9.jpg?itok=rNGJcaLL" title="111-125 A'Beckett Street. Image: CBRE City Sales" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>111-125 A'Beckett Street. Image: CBRE City Sales</figcaption></figure>News of S P Setia's A'Beckett Street foray comes hot on the heels of <a href="/news/s-p-setias-308-exhibition-street-approved-shangri-la-hotels-resorts-confirmed-as-operator"> the developer launching Sapphire By The Gardens</a>, which includes dual towers in the 250 metre range.

While one tower has been dedicated to Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts to be operated under their premium Shangri-La banner, the other which includes 345 luxury apartments has seen a high level of sales made, according to offshore markets website The Edge. Located at 308 Exhibition Street, the Cox and Fender Katsalidis-designed development features a distinctive green podium.

Released for sale only last weekend, The Edge Markets also <a href="http://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/s-p-setias-sapphire-gardens-70-taken-over-weekend-launch">reports</a> that more than 70% of apartments have been accounted for after the launch which was held simultaneously in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Sydney and here in Melbourne. Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore are reportedly to have their launch this weekend.

Construction of the mammoth project is slated to start later this year.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image6_15.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sapphire By The Gardens. Image: S P Setia"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="386" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image6_15.jpg?itok=QmcuMweq" title="Sapphire By The Gardens. Image: S P Setia" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sapphire By The Gardens. Image: S P Setia</figcaption></figure>With Maison Carnegie at construction and A'Beckett Street poised to join Sapphire By The Gardens at sales over the course of 2017, S P Setia's only remaining Melbourne project which has yet to be launched is the more modest mid-rise 103-105 High Street in Prahran.
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S P Setia lands 111-125 A'Beckett Street as offshore media reports Sapphire is all but sold out

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Once derided as the derriere of Melbourne's CBD, the west end is undergoing a marked revival with a slew of residential projects about to begin. This revival largely can also be attributed to the ongoing development of Docklands and the redevelopment of what is now Southern Cross Station, with the resultant epicentre of Melbourne's CBD slowly shifting to the area around King and Spencer Streets. 

A snapshot of some of the largest of these projects which will transform the face of Melbourne from a westerly aspect can be seen below;

<h2>555 Collins Street</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/555collins_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="555 Collins Street. Images: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="317" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/555collins_0.jpg?itok=9NIVdgHj" title="555 Collins Street. Images: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>555 Collins Street. Images: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>One of the latest projects to hit the market following a colourful history at planning. Once the site of the beautifully crafted Federal Coffee Palace, <a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">555 Collins Street </a>currently stands as the empty concrete edifice dubbed Enterprise House.

Initially seeking planning exemption for a commercial building of 400m, owner Harry Stamoulis sold the site to Fragrance group who tried for a 90-storey, 300m tower designed by Bates Smart. That was reassessed following backlash during the planning process and was eventually replaced with a 47-storey pleated tower rising from a tapering base.

624 apartments constitute the tower.

<blockquote>
555 Collins Street will provide a dynamic and elegant residential tower regenerating a prominent, but neglected corner site within Melbourne’s CBD. The tower form is distinguished by a unique tapered podium which allows for the creation of an increased public realm and generous retail precinct.

The tapered base also means daylight can filter into the internal spaces, while at night, light will illuminate the surrounding precinct. A continuous pedestrian loop will link the development with the adjacent building, expanding public amenity and creating a contemporary addition to Melbourne’s collection of laneways.

- Bates Smart
</blockquote>

555 Collins Street is currently at sales and registrations.

<h2>West Side Place</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/gold_residences.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The Gold Residences at West Side Place. Image: Far East Consortium"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="375" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/gold_residences.jpg?itok=lYWSSdJ_" title="The Gold Residences at West Side Place. Image: Far East Consortium" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Gold Residences at West Side Place. Image: Far East Consortium</figcaption></figure>Stage 1 of West Side Place comprising two 200m + towers including a Ritz-Carlton hotel, and is set to commence construction in coming months following a successful sales campaign, with few apartments remaining. Developer Far East Consortium is now pushing ahead with the next stage - The Gold Release Residences - set for launch on June 3rd via Colliers.

Rising 72-storeys for an approximate height of 245m, the Gold Release will sit to the east of the Ritz Carlton with a laneway separating the two towers and frontage along Lonsdale Street. A fourth and final tower of 69-storeys and approximately 235m high will complete Far East's regeneration of two city blocks, which it began with its Upper West Side development on the site of the former Lonsdale Street power station.

<blockquote>
The Gold Release is the newest stage within the Ritz-Carlton precinct offering one and two bedroom residences up to level 70 and featuring expansive views across Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne’s city skyline and beyond. The Gold Release represents sophistication, elegance, value, quality and status. Everything that is synonymous with West Side Place and the Ritz-Carlton.

Designed to maximise natural light, residences are available right up to the clouds at level 70, across the following three offerings of Sky Residences, Central Residences, and Garden Residences.

- Far East Consortium
</blockquote>

<h2>Premier Tower</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/premier_tower.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Premier Tower construction progress. Photo: redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="321" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/premier_tower.jpg?itok=-jX3Ks1g" title="Premier Tower construction progress. Photo: redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Premier Tower construction progress. Photo: redden</figcaption></figure><a href="/buildings/premier-tower-134-160-spencer-street-melbourne">Premier Tower</a> replaces the old Savoy Hotel on one of Melbourne's more prominent corners. The site is now at piling following initial demolition and excavations, with the result a 249m tower and 600 plus apartments.

Fragrance Group are behind the Elenberg Fraser-designed tower, with Multiplex the head contractor.

<blockquote>
We know you’ll agree that when you hear the phrase ‘less is more’ the first person that springs to mind is Beyoncé. No? Well – our new mixed-use building 134 Spencer Street provides the link between the two. At once a building that is the essence of first principles design – created entirely by parametric modelling – meanwhile its spiralling curves recall the twists and turns of a woman dancing in black cloth.

The deceptively complex form is the result of our research into wind, solar and massing criteria – the form is the best possible solution to all of those requirements. On top of that – we’ve taken the heritage surrounds into account, stepping down from the podium to meet them at eye level. This building is just another step in the westerly shift of the CBD.

- Elenberg Fraser
</blockquote>

<h2>299 King Street</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/firs9645_299kingst_el03_parkview.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="299 King Street and surrounds. Image:CBRE"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="223" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/firs9645_299kingst_el03_parkview.jpg?itok=qRECk-TJ" title="299 King Street and surrounds. Image:CBRE" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>299 King Street and surrounds. Image:CBRE</figcaption></figure>Initially receiving approval for a height of 208m - down from the initial proposal of 83-storeys and 269m - owners Farinia on sold the site with approval for a residential scheme by Plus Architecture to Aurumstone Group. Aurumstone has since engaged Elenberg Fraser to rework the scheme in readiness for a imminent sales campaign.

Gone is the pearlescent façade which would produce a pink, bluish, purple effect depending on how light was cast over the tower. Likewise the tower's form has been rationalised with curvaceous lines and a bulge in form toward its peak.

<h2>Collins House</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/collins_house.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Collins House construction progress. Photo: redden"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="286" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/collins_house.jpg?itok=wR8gtWqR" title="Collins House construction progress. Photo: redden" width="580"></a>

<figcaption><a href="/buildings/collins-house-melbourne-460-466-collins-street-melbourne">Collins House construction</a> progress. Photo: redden</figcaption></figure>Hickory is progressing construction works on the narrow site of what will eventually become Australia's slimmest tower, containing 267 dwellings. To deliver Golden Age's 60-storey residential tower and to deal with the site's small footprint, Hickory will be employing its innovative HBS construction method

The project will be serviced by a single tower crane, with major elements including façade and floors fabricated off-site and rapidly assembled on arrival at Collins Street. As such Hickory anticipates the overall construction programme on the Bates Smart designed tower will be reduced by up to 30%.

<blockquote>
The 60 level Collins House project incorporates the grand heritage façade of Melbourne’s historic Maker’s Mark building with a sleek contemporary tower.  Located on a small site footprint in central Melbourne, Hickory’s construction method for the project incorporates our own volumetric structural system, allowing building componentry to be erected more efficiently than a conventional formwork approach would have allowed.

Once complete, the 204-metre project will boast 271 luxury apartments ranging from two and three bedrooms to double storey loft apartments over a single basement level.  Communal facilities for residents include Collins Terrace on Level 3, a private indoor / outdoor space with private dining and gourmet kitchen and the St James Club on Level 27, a private club space with fitness facilities, outdoor deck, dining room and bar.

- Hickory
</blockquote>

<h2>600 Collins Street</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/06_collins_melbourne_corner_plaza_hires.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="600 Collins Street base and plaza. Image: ZHA "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/06_collins_melbourne_corner_plaza_hires.jpg?itok=RsjW4isc" title="600 Collins Street base and plaza. Image: ZHA " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>600 Collins Street base and plaza. Image: ZHA</figcaption></figure>Developer Landream has applied to amend the approved plans to include a six star hotel in the tower with a marketing campaign not too far off for the ZHA and Plus Architecture designed tower. The development distinguished by 3-stacked vases, will deliver a plaza to Collins Street and laneway to the west of the site activated with retail and a gallery space.

^00 Collins was approved with 420 apartments in place, although that final release will likely see this number change.

<blockquote>
The design has been defined by Melbourne's rich and diverse urban landscape, reinterpreted in a contemporary solution driven by the logical division of its overall volume that will enhance the city's public realm with generous communal spaces. We are honoured to be working with our partners in Melbourne to deliver this project for the city.

- Michele Pasca di Magliano, Zaha Hadid Architects. 
</blockquote>
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Laurence Dragomir

Apartments galore set to breathe new life into the western CBD 

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May 2017 has thus far brought with it a string of cold mornings and a rash of news relating to various developments across Melbourne's CBD.

On the planning front, VCAT have delivered good news to interests seeking to turn the historic Phillips Shirts building at 274-278 Little Lonsdale Street into a substantial tower. Originally planned as a 59-storey residential tower, the design has been substantially clipped to approximately 100 metres in height or 30 levels.

278 Little Lonsdale Pty Ltd is the entity behind the tower which has now been approved for hotel use. Brady Group are the controlling force behind the project, perhaps suggesting that 274-278 Little Lonsdale Street may be developed under the Brady Hotels banner, in a similar move to what the developer has in store for 109-111 Little Lonsdale Street.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image135_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="A new Exhibition Street perspective."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="259" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image135_3.jpg?itok=XkwCc9Op" title="A new Exhibition Street perspective." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>A new Exhibition Street perspective.</figcaption></figure>Also widely reported last week is the news that Malaysia's SP Setia have crucially been given the green light from City of Melbourne to pursue redevelopment of 288-326 Exhibition Street. Under the plans dual towers approaching the height of Rialto will be constructed, with unconfirmed whispers that Shangri-La assume control over the development's 500 hotel suites.

Final approval rests with Planning Minister Richard Wynne.

Continuing the hotel theme is news of construction tenders being released for a new Vivo Hotel at 33-35 King Street. Originally approved for 120 apartments across 29 levels, developer BPM have reworked the scheme after purchasing the site, with Elenberg Fraser reportedly installed as the architect of choice.

In projects sales news, 555 Collins Street is due to launch shortly with the project's display suite freshly complete. Replacing a drab existing onsite office building, the Bates Smart-designed tower will stand 47 levels upon completion.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image162.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="555 Collins Street's envisaged pool deck and Paragon Apartments "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="271" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image162.jpg?itok=hpI9chHK" title="555 Collins Street's envisaged pool deck and Paragon Apartments " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>555 Collins Street's envisaged pool deck and Paragon Apartments</figcaption></figure>555 Collins Street adds to Fragrance Group's other Melbourne pursuit, Premier Tower, which will over the coming months begin to rise above street level on its way to an eventual height of 249 metres above Spencer Street. 555 Collins Street's launch comes as the AFR reported last week on Paragon's early sales success within Malaysia. 

49 apartments within the tower located at 316-320 Queen Street have been sold to to Malaysian buyers; accumulated the sales have an end value of $70 million.

Finally the construction front also brings fresh news during May.

Probuild signage has appeared across 271 Spring Street, heralding construction commencement of Australian Unity's new headquarters. The $110 million office tower set over 16 levels includes 15,600 square metres of commercial office space and is due to be completed during 2019.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image158.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Probuild's dual new commercial CBD projects. "><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="350" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image158.jpg?itok=pUqP26Vs" title="Probuild's dual new commercial CBD projects. " width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Probuild's dual new commercial CBD projects.</figcaption></figure>Probuild are also <a href="http://www.probuild.com.au/news/news/probuild-appointed-as-preferred-contractor-to-construct-new-victoria-police-centre-482">set to begin works</a> on Victoria Police's new building at 311 Spencer Street this month. Across 39 levels, 311 Spencer Street encompasses 65,000 square metres of commercial space.

Finally the remaining tower crane servicing Light House at 450 Elizabeth Street is making its way back town to terra firma, indicating that completion is nearing for Melbourne's latest tower to reach the 200 metre club. Hengyi Australia's latest includes over 600 apartments within the 218 metre tower. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/img_0059.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Light House stands centre of shot"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="423" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/img_0059.jpg?itok=X6FTQwpW" title="Light House stands centre of shot" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Light House stands centre of shot</figcaption></figure>
</body></html>

The May CBD development wrap

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LongRiver Group have ramped up their Box Hill development intentions. The privately owned property player is poised to launch a major apartment tower fronting Whitehorse Road whilst simultaneously working to secure the right to build Melbourne's latest DoubleTree by Hilton outlet.

820 Whitehorse Road's redevelopment came to light early last year, with Whitehorse Council ultimately granting LongRiver Group the right to proceed with the 30 storey building just prior to the turn of 2017. Valued at around the $200 mark, <a href="/buildings/east-central-tower-820-whitehorse-road-box-hill">East Central Tower</a> as it will be known is now accepting registrations of interest.

Included within the tower designed by Fender Katsalidis are approximately 280 apartments, 1,500sqm of residential facilities plus 3,000sqm of combined office and retail space.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image111_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="East Central Tower is nearing its sales launch. Image: Longriver Group"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="832" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image111_3.jpg?itok=b-m7nOYO" title="East Central Tower is nearing its sales launch. Image: Longriver Group" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>East Central Tower is nearing its sales launch. Image: Longriver Group</figcaption></figure>East Central Tower's pending launch comes as LongRiver Group work on bringing DoubleTree by Hilton to Box Hill.

Integrated property and infrastructure consultancy APP have released details of the intended DoubleTree by Hilton tower at 874-878 Whitehorse Road. Whitehorse Council are still assessing the project which landed at planning late last year.

<blockquote>
The new hotel, to be developed in the <a href="/developments/box-hill-vic-3128">suburb of Box Hill</a>, will be the second DoubleTree by Hilton in Melbourne. Box Hill is a major commercial hub in Melbourne’s Eastern Suburbs and is an area of strategic significance with planned growth in employment, housing, business, services and public investment.

Currently in the design phase, the hotel will include 200 stylish and comfortable rooms, a restaurant, bar and gym coupled with an array of contemporary amenities consistent with the DoubleTree by Hilton brand. 

DoubleTree Hilton is renowned for delivering upscale, full-service hotels and identifying key markets around the world, and the new development is no exception. Expected to open in 2020, the hotel is in a prime position surrounded by education, government and healthcare facilities and is anticipated to inject a fresh, energetic presence to the Box Hill area.
<cite>APP </cite>
</blockquote>

874-878 Whitehorse Road has an expected project value of $90 million.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image114_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="DoubleTree by Hilton is headed for Box Hill. Image: APP"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="273" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image114_3.jpg?itok=ealmaEpR" title="DoubleTree by Hilton is headed for Box Hill. Image: APP" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>DoubleTree by Hilton is headed for Box Hill. Image: APP</figcaption></figure>Whilst Box Hill has over recent years transformed into a favoured apartment market, it's only now that the suburb has gained traction in terms of attracting hotel operators.

DoubleTree by Hilton's 200 suites will follow The Chen, an Art Series Hotel containing 100 suites which is nearing completion as part of the larger Whitehorse Towers development. Also in play atop the hill are 150 approved hotel suites within Spotlight Property Group's 845-851 Whitehorse Road project and 77 serviced apartments as part of Golden Age Group's proposed 517-521 Station Street development.
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Doubletree by Hilton and East Central Tower define LongRiver's Box Hill aspirations

<html><body>
There's movement regarding a number of imposing skyscrapers planned for Southbank.

The Planing Minister has granted approval for 51-65 Clarke Street during April, allowing developer Newcity Development (One) Pty Ltd to proceed with the hulking 70 storey tower. The twisting multi-coloured design by Elenberg Fraser which tops out at 233m would rank the tower among Southbank's tallest, although still well short of the suburb's tallest approved tower - 1 Queensbridge Street at 323m.

Spanning a GFA of 52,313sqm, 51-65 Clarke Street consists predominantly of 512 apartments, supported in turn by 327 bicycle bays and 120 car parking spaces.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image72_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="51-65 Clarke Street. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="417" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image72_2.jpg?itok=nka0KwWu" title="51-65 Clarke Street. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>51-65 Clarke Street. Planning image: Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>Although well in excess of the desired Southbank/CBD plot ratio, both Melbourne City Council and the Planing Minister saw fit to support the project.

<blockquote>
With a proposed height of 233m and setbacks that comply with the requirements of DDO10, the development will not overwhelm or dominate the public realm or adjoining buildings

As the development exceeds the maximum plot ratio of 24:1, the applicant is required to demonstrate a public benefit contribution. With the provision of a new through block link between Catherine Street and Hancock Street and contributions to nearby streetscape upgrades and projections actions with the City Road Masterplan and Southbank Structure Plan, it is considered that the plot ratio of 30.8:1 can be supported.
<cite>Report to Future Melbourne Planning Committee</cite>
</blockquote>

Also offered in principle support last month by Melbourne City Council was 87-105 Queensbridge Street. With Melbourne City Council's support or otherwise a prudent indicator as to whether a project will receive support from the Minister's office, 87-105 Queensbridge Street is now seemingly in the box seat to receive the green light.

If approved, the 170m tower would prove to be a boon for developer Aohua Sheng Le Property Pty Ltd.

Whether they choose to develop or move the site on, a permit for 852 apartments on Southbank is a substantial outcome. The planning application is also seeking the right to add 312 bicycle bays and 453 parking spaces within the Fender Katsalidis-designed project. 

87-105 Queensbridge Street's apartment split sees 354 single bedroom, 471 dual bedroom and 27 triple bedroom dwellings within the edifice which holds a massive GFA of 113,401sqm.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image73_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="87-105 Queensbridge Street. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="443" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image73_4.jpg?itok=06TQZqvO" title="87-105 Queensbridge Street. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>87-105 Queensbridge Street. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure>As the above duo navigate the planning process, a further two projects are looking for new owners as their current vendors choose to offload their respective assets.

38 Freshwater Place is the higher profile project of the duo up for sale. Knight Frank and CBRE have jointly listed the project, with its EOI campaign closing mid May. Up for grabs is the right to deliver a 273m mixed used tower featuring apartments, a hotel component and retail. After picking up the site at the turn of 2016, PCT Development &amp; Management have chosen to move on the trophy property.

Rounding out the Southbank do-si-do is 127-129 Kavanagh Street, which - save for a couple of months of piling activity at the turn of 2017 - has been dormant for some years. Designed by Squillace, 127-129 Kavanagh Street's approved permit allows for 780 apartments and multiple retails space across two towers, with the taller at 48 storeys. 

The above two projects are particularly valuable given the planning changes implemented over recent times, restricting height and density, and therefore apartment yield within the suburb. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image76_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="38 Freshwater Place &amp; 127-129 Kavanagh Street. Images: Knight Frank &amp; Squillace"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="287" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image76_2.jpg?itok=EosnoaVC" title="38 Freshwater Place &amp; 127-129 Kavanagh Street. Images: Knight Frank &amp; Squillace" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>38 Freshwater Place &amp; 127-129 Kavanagh Street. Images: Knight Frank &amp; Squillace</figcaption></figure>
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51-65 Clarke Street's approval leads the Southbank shuffle

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Rents for skyscraper offices in Australian cities are rising faster than those in any other global city, according to the latest Skyscraper Index from Knight Frank.
The report examines the rental performance of commercial buildings over 30 storeys across the world.
Melbourne and Sydney grew the fastest among the cities surveyed at 11.0 percent and 10.1 percent respectively in the six months to Q4 2016, amid tightening vacancies and limited new supply.
In Sydney, stock withdrawals to accommodate the new Metro line and residential conversions are reducing the overall supply, while Melbourne had the strongest level of net absorption in 2016.
David Howson, head of office leasing at Knight Frank said Sydney’s office vacancy is at 6.2 percent, and is forecast to go as low as 3.5 percent in the next two years, with the current low vacancy and prospect of even lower vacancy driving rental increases now.
“The withdrawal of stock for Sydney is a major factor, with 239,057 sqm of stock removed from the market during 2016 for either refurbishment or permanent withdrawals – largely for conversion to residential or hotel use, and recycling of sites to future office developments," he said.
"An example of this is 301 George Street, in which 11,500 sqm is being demolished to make way for the Wynyard Place development.
"The Metro project will also trigger significant withdrawals of space, mostly in 2017, accounting for some 62,000 sqm along, and this will be a major contributor to the further 102,289 sqm of Sydney CBD office stock to be withdrawn this calendar year.
"While recent new supply has been high, largely driven by the Barangaroo developments, this has been largely balanced by the withdrawals.
"The next two years of supply is only modest, and the total stock of the CBD is expected to decline over this period.
"However, there is a very strong supply cycle building for 2020 and beyond.Net absorption of office space in the CBD is also high driven by buoyant financial and construction sectors.
“In Melbourne, the vacancy rate is at 10-year lows at 6.4," Mr Howson added.
"Unusually for Melbourne in recent years, the level of new stock additions will be lower in the next 24 months at 113,242 sqm or 1.3 percent stock growth per annum.
"This is well below the long term average of 3.6 percent per year.
"The Victorian economy is currently the strongest in Australia, and is supported by high population growth into Melbourne of 2 percent, which is boosting the underlying demand for office space.
"With the vacancy rate expected to head towards 4 percent in the next year, the upwards pressure on rents will remain.
"However it should be remembered that across the market as a whole, there is still a large price gap between the Sydney and Melbourne markets with gross effective prime rents in Sydney currently at a 60% premium to those in Melbourne."
Knight Frank’s latest research shows rents in Hong Kong’s skyscrapers continue to be the highest in the world by some margin, reaching $302.67 per sq ft in H2 2016.
New York retains its second position, where skyscraper rents are currently $159.00 per sq ft.
In Europe, skyscraper rents in London have remained stable at $104.56 per sq ft in the second half of 2016.
Of the North American cities, Toronto saw the highest rental growth at 4.7 percent.
In many Southeast Asian markets such as Shanghai, Singapore and Seoul, rents have trended down by 2.0 percent, 4.2 percent and 4.8 percent respectively, highlighting heightened economic uncertainty and a cautious business outlook.
Dan Gaunt, head of Knight Frank's city agency said despite uncertainty following the Brexit-vote, rents in London’s skyscrapers remain significantly higher than those in other major European cities.
"Demand for space in the Capital’s landmark tall buildings shows little sign of diminishing and we see rents remaining at their current level through 2017,” he said.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2017/04/11/TheShard_REM2.jpg" alt="">
James Roberts, Knight Frank's chief economist said the strong performance for Melbourne and Sydney reflect local market factors.
"If we set those cities to one side, the general picture from the latest Skyscraper Index is flat growth, which reflects the nervousness in most office markets in the second half of last year over political risks, like Brexit and the US election," he said.
"However, in 2017 the tone of global economic news is improving, and both Brexit and the Trump government have not had the negative impact on growth that was initially feared.
"When we compile the next skyscraper index in the summer, I expect to see more cities reporting rental growth in tower buildings.”
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
Ranking
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Prime office rents for upper floors in skyscrapers
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
Rent (US$ / sq ft / per annum)
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
% growth in six months to Q4 2016*
</td>
<td valign="top" width="147">
Rent (US$ / sq m/ per annum)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
1
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Hong Kong
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$302.67
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.6%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$3,257.93
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
New York (Manhattan)
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$159.00
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.6%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$1,711.46
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Tokyo
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$134.39
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
1.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$1,446.57
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
San Francisco
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$113.00
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$1,216.32
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
London (City)
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$104.56
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$1,125.51
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
6
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Sydney
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$97.34
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
10.1%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$1,047.78
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
7
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Boston
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$77.00
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$828.82
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
8
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Shanghai
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$67.81
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
-2.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$729.92
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
9
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Singapore
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$63.64
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
-4.2%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$684.97
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
10
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Chicago
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$61.00
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
3.4%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$656.60
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
11
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Beijing
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$59.84
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
-1.3%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$644.10
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
12
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Paris (La Défense)
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$53.83
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$579.46
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
13
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Frankfurt
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$52.85
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
5.9%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$568.92
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
14
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Mumbai
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$52.67
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$566.98
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
15
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Melbourne
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$50.89
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
11.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$547.74
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
16
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Toronto
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$49.74
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
4.7%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$535.41
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
17
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Los Angeles
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$46.00
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$495.14
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
18
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Dubai
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$43.55
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$468.79
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
19
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Taipei
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$38.59
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$415.39
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
20
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Madrid
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$36.41
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
0.0%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$391.92
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="50">
21
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="127">
Seoul
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="107">
$29.93
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="99">
-4.8%
</td>
<td valign="top" nowrap width="147">
$322.19
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Source: Knight Frank, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Research Institute          
* Excludes exchange rate effects; conversion to US$ based on 31 December 2016 rates                   
Note: Upper floors is defined as above the regular skyline, thus offering panoramic views, but excluding the very top floors.                           
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Australian markets have witnessed the fastest rental growth for offices in skyscrapers

<html><body>
Clarendon Street's position as a hotel and serviced apartment hub is likely to be strengthened by way of a new tower proposed for 56-62 Clarendon Street.

Already boasting Crown Metropol, Clarendon Street will also see construction commence on a Peppers hotel shortly, and is subject to a substantial hotel proposal as part of the <a href="/news/tea-for-two-southbanks-historic-tea-house-up-for-a-towering-addition">Tea House's prospective redevelopment</a>. In addition to traditional apartments, 56-62 Clarendon Street is proposed to also include 128 serviced apartments across its lower levels.

Submitted late last year, the application on behalf of developer Yang Clarendon.

<h2>56-62 Clarendon Street application summary</h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image83_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of the new Southbank tower. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="925" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image83_3.jpg?itok=BquFwcHB" title="Artist's impression of the new Southbank tower. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of the new Southbank tower. Planning image: Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure><ul>
<li>1,212sqm site current utilised as a Europcar outlet and motor mechanic centre</li>
	<li>Proposed 48 level tower at 151m to roof</li>
	<li>Plot ratio: 22.6:1</li>
	<li>128 Serviced Apartments: 24 x DK 1BR, 56 x DK  Studio, 48 x Studio</li>
	<li>234 apartments: 117 x 1BR, 117 x 2BR</li>
	<li>2 retail spaces fronting Clarendon Street</li>
	<li>372sqm of amenities</li>
	<li>80 car parks &amp; 93 bicycle bays</li>
	<li>GFA: 27,214sqm</li>
</ul>
Fender Katsalidis Architects have designed the tower, with the broader development team having already responded to preliminary DELWP queries during February this year.

<blockquote>
The building facade is designed to give the overall building form a more bold and expressive appearance, with different elements working to define the podium, tower and roof of the building.

At street level the podium appears more bold and dramatic, a point of interest and excitement along the pedestrian street. The tower form appears simpler and lighter, in the background but with the facade design winding its way up towards the top. At roof level the facade folds back along the top, extending the expressive and bold facade up to the roof, to be read from afar at the scale of the wider urban context, if only slightly.
<cite>Urban Context Report</cite>
</blockquote>

At 48 levels, 56-62 Clarendon Street is among the tallest towers in the immediate area; diagonally opposite, BPM's Shadow Play is under construction whilst 334-344 City Road holds approval at 38 levels.

56-62 Clarendon Street carries a similarly themed exterior to a number of other Fender Katsalidis-designed Southbank towers such as Eureka Tower, Australia 108 and 18 Moray Street. Certainly, in the three projects below, gold highlights over a predominantly blue facade has become somewhat of a Southbank norm for the design practice.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image21_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Gold over Blue. Images: Yellow Red Fox, Meinhardt &amp; Fender Katsalidis"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="317" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image21_12.jpg?itok=lgCyXCO6" title="Gold over Blue. Images: Yellow Red Fox, Meinhardt &amp; Fender Katsalidis" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Gold over Blue. Images: Yellow Red Fox, Meinhardt &amp; Fender Katsalidis</figcaption></figure><h2>56-62 Clarendon Street development team</h2>

<ul>
<li>Developer: Yang Clarendon</li>
	<li>Architects: Fender Katsalidis Architects</li>
	<li>Planning: Urbis</li>
	<li>Land Surveyor: Breese Pitt Dixon</li>
	<li>Building Surveyor: Abdec Building Surveyors</li>
	<li>Structural and Services Engineering: WSP Structural Engineering</li>
	<li>Waste Management: Leigh Design</li>
	<li>Traffic Engineering: GTA Consultants</li>
	<li>Wind Consultant: MEL Consultants</li>
</ul>
</body></html>

Another substantial Southbank tower emerges

<html><body>
Two almost forgotten planning applications for substantial skyscrapers have re-emerged over the last month, prompting Apartments.com.au to once again highlight the very healthy number of 200 metre plus skyscrapers in the pipeline for Melbourne. 

Most recently, <a href="/new-apartments/63-exhibition-street-melbourne">57-63 Exhibition Street</a> which was first submitted during August 2014, is still active with <a href="/developers/salta-properties">Salta Properties</a> backing the <a href="/architects/bates-smart">Bates Smart-designed</a> skyscraper which would nudge 204m if approved. City of <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne</a> have brought the project back into the spotlight via their Future Melbourne Committee, and have provided in principal support for the project subject to a number of conditions.

One condition being that the Planning Minister reduce the tower's height to 182m. In its current form at 204m, 57-63 Exhibition Street is valued at $255 million and includes 185 hotel suites and 119 apartments within the slim tower.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image30_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of 57-63 Exhibition Street. Planing image: Bates Smart"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="272" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image30_11.jpg?itok=dt-oG7Ge" title="Artist's impression of 57-63 Exhibition Street. Planing image: Bates Smart" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of 57-63 Exhibition Street. Planing image: Bates Smart</figcaption></figure>Also recently before the Future Melbourne Committee was <a href="/developments/southbank-vic-3006">158-164 City Road, Southbank</a> whose planning history spans back to 2010. Approval at 43 levels was granted along the way, although proponent Eastern International Property Development is still pursuing a taller 69 level, 216m scheme that would yield 556 dwellings, 96 serviced apartments, offices and a supermarket.

The Future Melbourne Committee indicated a lack of support for the higher scheme earlier this month.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image31_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Artist's impression of 158 City Road. Planing image: Elenberg Fraser"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="379" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image31_4.jpg?itok=mdGETMiu" title="Artist's impression of 158 City Road. Planing image: Elenberg Fraser" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Artist's impression of 158 City Road. Planing image: Elenberg Fraser</figcaption></figure>With light shed upon the two applications above, and with a number of other potential entrants having their height reduced below the 200m mark, an updated list of towers at 200m plus or above across inner Melbourne is provided below.

<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:580px;"><tbody>
<tr>
<td>
			Name/Address
			</td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">
			Height
			</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">
			Status
			</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/one-queensbridge-street-1-23-queensbridge-street-southbank">1 Queensbridge Street, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">323</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Approved</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/51-65-clarke-street-southbank">51-65 Clarke Street, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">228</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Planning</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/elysium-54-clarke-street-southbank">54 Clarke Street, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">244</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Approved</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/australia-108-southbank-70-southbank-boulevard-southbank">70 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">319</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Construction</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/developments/southbank-vic-3006">158 City Road, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">216</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Planning</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/38-freshwater-place-southbank">38 Freshwater Place, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">273</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Planning </td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/melbourne-square-93-119-kavanagh-street-southbank">93-119 Kavanagh Street, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">226 </td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Sales</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/the-queensbridge-building-southbank-90-queensbridge-street-southbank">88 Queensbridge Street, Southbank</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">208</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Sales</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/swanston-central-168-victoria-street-carlton">168 Victoria Street, Carlton</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">237</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Construction</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/uno-melbourne-117-abeckett-street-melbourne">111-125 A'beckett Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">210</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Approved</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/sapphire-by-the-gardens-63-la-trobe-street-melbourne-vic-3000">308 Exhibition Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">254</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Planning</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/aurora-melbourne-central-224-la-trobe-street-melbourne">224 La Trobe Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">267</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Construction</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/victoria-one-452-472-elizabeth-street-melbourne">452 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">241</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Construction</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/light-house-450-elizabeth-street-melbourne">450 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne </a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">218</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Construction</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/380-melbourne-380-lonsdale-street-melbourne">380 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">218</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Sales</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">383 La Trobe Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">242</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Approved</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/queens-place-157-a-beckett-street-and-370-queen-street-melbourne">350 Queen Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">246 </td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Sales</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/west-side-place-melbourne-250-spencer-street-melbourne-vic-3000">250 Spencer Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">270</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Sales</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/buildings/aspire-melbourne-301-king-st-melbourne">295-309 King Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">208</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Approved</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="/buildings/premier-tower-134-160-spencer-street-melbourne">134 Spencer Street, Melbourne</a> </td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">249</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Construction</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/272-282-queen-street-melbourne">272-282 Queen Street, Melbourne </a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">207</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Approved</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/developments/melbourne-vic-3000">183-189 A'beckett Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">205</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Planning</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/150-queen-street-melbourne">150 Queen Street, Melbourne </a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">226</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Delayed</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/640-bourke-street-melbourne-640-bourke-street-melbourne-vic-3000">640 Bourke Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">273</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Planning</td>
		</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="/new-apartments/63-exhibition-street-melbourne">57-63 Exhibition Street, Melbourne</a></td>
			<td style="width: 94px;">204</td>
			<td style="width: 93px;">Planning</td>
		</tr>
</tbody></table>
Although there's some conjecture over a number of projects (owing to contradictory or ambiguous information) such as <a href="/new-apartments/293-297-city-road-southbank-vic-3006">295 City Road</a>, <a href="/buildings/97-franklin-street-melbourne">97 Franklin Street</a> and <a href="/buildings/collins-house-melbourne-460-466-collins-street-melbourne">466 Collins Street</a> that have been left off the list, the number of projects confirmed and included above is still immense.

With a quarter of the 23 listed projects above including multiple towers over 200m or more, it's still conceivable that Melbourne will be sporting another 30 skyscrapers beyond 200m in height in the years to come. If nothing else it serves to demonstrate the immense change still to grip Melbourne's skyline.

Although rules that govern the design of tall towers across <a href="/new-apartments/southbank-vic-3006">Southbank</a> and the <a href="/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">CBD</a> have changed, there's still a veritable mountain of skyscrapers yet to fully take their place on Melbourne's skyline; interesting times ahead for our fair city!

As always feel free to provide corrections or additions to the list above.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image36_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Melbourne's booming skyline on a sunny March day. Image: Ryan Seychell"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="451" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image36_4.jpg?itok=LpTktI0H" title="Melbourne's booming skyline on a sunny March day. Image: Ryan Seychell" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Melbourne's booming skyline on a sunny March day. Image: Ryan Seychell</figcaption></figure>
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The 200 metre club revisited

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Melbourne's dynamic hotel sector continues to see new deals done, further expanding the lengthy queue of short stay accommodation projects in development around the city.

After opening their first Melbourne outlet in Docklands at the turn of 2016, Peppers will take on a new Southbank tower as part of parent company Mantra Group's <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://thehotelconversation.com.au/news/2016/11/30/mantra-group-secures-five-new-hotels/1480459707">aggressive expansion plan throughout Australian and New Zealand</a>. The plan sees Peppers Southbank as one of five new hotels for Mantra Group in the region, with 900 new rooms in total planned.

Peppers Southbank will be sited at 64-68 Clerendon Street, currently a two level commercial building across a 412sqm site. In anticipation of a late 2018 opening date, preliminary demolition has begun onsite.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image84_5.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Peppers Southbank. Image: Point Polaris"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="350" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image84_5.jpg?itok=dL5HSdH_" title="Peppers Southbank. Image: Point Polaris" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Peppers Southbank. Image: Point Polaris</figcaption></figure>Although <a href="http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/property-information/planning-building-registers/Pages/town-planning-permits-register-search-results.aspx?appid=227857">garnering 63 objections</a> during the planning process, 64-68 Clarendon Street received approval during late 2015 for a residential hotel tower. The building's overall appearance has been altered from earlier images, with a cleaner facade, defined podium to Clarendon Street and additional floors added, slightly boosting the overall room count to 165.

Point Polaris are also involved at a <a href="http://www.pointpolaris.com.au/experience/peppers-southbank/">project management level</a>, with Peppers Southbank's development value slated as $60 million.

To the opposite side of the Yarra, and prolific developer Caydon have availed themselves as the driving force behind 1 Queen Street. Formerly home to Fletcher Jones, approval was sought and won by then entity Creative Wealth (Aust) Pty Ltd for a K2LD Architects-designed 26 storey tower above the historic edifice.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image86_3.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="336" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image86_3.jpg?itok=MRp6kmFU" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon</figcaption></figure>Gone is the plan for 117 residential apartments, with Caydon via its website confirming TOGA Group as the new operator of the now hotel development, under their Vibe brand. 1 Queen Street is in addition to Vibe Hotel Carlton and Vibe Savoy Hotel, also in Melbourne's CBD.

Caydon describes the project as a 23 level, boutique 4.5-star hotel, which is expected to start construction this year for an anticipated completion during early 2019. The building will include 204 hotel rooms, plus an indoor heated pool, gym facilities and retail spaces to street level.

Based on the image below, 1 Queen Street's development will also see the historic Fletcher Jones Queen Street frontage reinstated.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image88_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="272" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image88_4.jpg?itok=h2LJV-J-" title="1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>1 Queen Street. Image: Caydon</figcaption></figure>
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