<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sunland-group">Sunland Group</a> has officially lodged plans for its first Gold Coast apartment project since the departure of the Abedian family from the company three years ago, unveiling a new high-rise proposal for a prominent Broadbeach corner site on Old Burleigh Road.

The application was submitted by an entity directed by Tom Jamieson, stepson of longtime Sunland leader Soheil Abedian, and Riaz Rezvanipour, brother-in-law of Sahba Abedian, Soheil’s son.

Sunland acquired the 1,283 sqm site on the corner of Old Burleigh Road and Armrick Avenue for $9.5 million late last year and is now seeking approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/99-101-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">42-storey tower with 81 apartments</a>.

<img alt="First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fea2946d-90ee-4cfc-babe-2a8ad5db2cb6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers.png?VersionId=BV0fihJw31nDIQ8ozY_h3GbS8mxDyhnm" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/contreras-earl-architecture">Contreras Earl Architecture</a>, the proposed tower at 99-101 Old Burleigh Road would deliver a predominantly larger-format apartment mix aimed at the owner-occupier market. Plans include 17 two-bedroom apartments, 55 three-bedroom apartments, and nine four-bedroom residences across 35 residential levels.

The development also incorporates three basement levels, four podium parking levels, two levels of communal recreation facilities, and rooftop plant and equipment. A total of 189 car spaces are proposed, significantly exceeding the 90 spaces required under the planning scheme.

The architecture adopts a sculpted, curvilinear form, with deep wraparound balconies and integrated landscaping intended to soften the tower’s vertical expression. The planning report states the building’s “slender footprint/form provides a complimentary yet varied built form within the local streetscape” and contributes to “a varied, yet ordered skyline.”

Contreras Earl noted in its Architectural Statement that from the early stages, the project addressed a fundamental challenge: how to accommodate the required residential yield while avoiding the conventional model of a tower sitting on a rigid, fully resolved parking podium.

“The most direct response would have been to consolidate parking into a singular, flat podium and extrude a repetitive tower above,” the statement said. “While efficient, this approach would result in a consolidated built form with limited engagement with the surrounding landscape and public realm.”

Instead, the conventional podium model was “deliberately rejected”. The architects described the base of the building as “a landscaped architectural condition where structure, planting and circulation are integrated”.

“Rather than presenting a continuous built mass, the base of the building is articulated through a series of concrete planter elements that organise the podium into a fragmented system,” the statement said. “This approach reduces the perceived bulk of the lower levels while establishing a more permeable interface with the streetscape and adjacent open space.”

<img alt="Sunland" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="923fad8d-c960-4527-8fbe-975cf1ddf88d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%2010.32.03%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=pngwb0hYOIUpq9vDw6F2EsOiVuHF3DiX" />

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The site sits within the High Density Residential Zone and inside the City of Gold Coast’s unrestricted “HX” building height area, where the planning framework anticipates intensified residential development tied to the expanding light rail corridor. The planning report notes the area is undergoing “transition toward more intense development forms” given its proximity to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, and high-frequency public transport infrastructure.

Positioned directly opposite Broadbeach Park and within walking distance of Florida Gardens light rail station, the development would sit among a rapidly evolving stretch of Old Burleigh Road that has become one of the Gold Coast’s most active apartment development corridors.

The application joins a growing pipeline of luxury residential projects reshaping Broadbeach, including nearby developments by 5Point Projects, Polycell, and Graya.

The planning report argues the project contributes toward the Gold Coast’s long-term housing targets under the South East Queensland Regional Plan, which forecasts the need for more than 100,000 additional high-rise dwellings across the city by 2046.

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The Abedian family departed Sunland Group in late 2023, ending a four-decade association with the company, and subsequently established the private development firm Abedian &amp; Co. The group is currently delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/greenmount-residences-cnr-hill-street-and-marine-parade-coolangatta-qld-4225">Greenmount Residences</a> at Rainbow Bay and recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/18-mary-avenue-14-18-mary-avenue-broadbeach-qld-4218">18 Mary Avenue</a> in Broadbeach.
</section>

Joel Robinson

First look: Sunland Group returns to Broadbeach new apartment market with new Old Burleigh Road tower plans

The Minns Labor Government has established the new Bays West Delivery Authority to lead the development&nbsp;of the Bays West Precinct and Blackwattle Bay Precinct.&nbsp;

The Authority is charged with creating Sydney’s newest precinct, a thriving, connected, sustainable hub with White Bay Power Station as its cultural heart. Its vision is to build on the area’s natural, cultural and industrial history to shape a vibrant new neighbourhood.

The precinct will deliver up to 8,500 well-located homes, including a minimum of 10 per cent affordable and essential worker homes. Combine new housing with public open space, opening public access to the waterfront for the first time in more than 100 years, while retaining important deep-water facilities to support Sydney’s working harbour.

Located just minutes from the Sydney CBD and connected to a world-class metro, ferry, walking and cycling links, the Bays West precinct will rebalance housing growth towards well-serviced inner-city locations and help tackle the state’s housing crisis.

The Bays West Delivery Authority,&nbsp;an agency of the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, will report to the NSW Minister for Lands and Property who already has oversight of major precinct renewal projects including at Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo.

As part of the broader Bays West transformation, the Minns Government recently announced that a proposal from Lendlease to redevelop part of the Bays West Precinct has progressed to Stage 2 of the NSW Government’s unsolicited proposals process.

<img alt="Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ed71eb9-d8e8-4fa7-b9d1-de4531dcf2f3" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-25%20at%209.42.31%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=IDryFIbped9SNDg72LEN_EecvhUsOPvp" />

The Minns Labor Government has also confirmed the Bays West precinct will have a new suburb name. This will be the first major suburb built in close proximity to Sydney’s CBD in decades and will encompass the area currently being referred to as Bays West, including Glebe Island and the White Bay Power Station. Served by a new Metro station just five minutes from the CBD, it will become one of the most populous suburbs in the Inner West and one of Sydney’s premier cultural destinations.

An early works program is taking shape, which&nbsp;includes the first stages of an international design competition.&nbsp;

The aim of the Bays West&nbsp;International&nbsp;Design Competition is to&nbsp;ensure design excellence is embedded in the project from the start. The competition will deliver an&nbsp;urban framework that defines the character, ambition and long-term identity of&nbsp;this&nbsp;former industrial precinct as it transitions to a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable residential&nbsp;neighbourhood.

The competition will be led by the Bays West Delivery Authority in partnership with Government Architect NSW.&nbsp;

It will launch with an invitation for a global Expressions of Interest, before moving to an invitation-only stage that will be assessed by a panel that&nbsp;will provide advice to Cabinet who will select a winner.

Premier of NSW, Chris Minns said the establishment of the new Authority is the first step in transforming the Bays West precinct into a vibrant, livable suburb minutes from the Sydney CBD and two stops from Hunter St Station on the Metro West line.

“The Authority will deliver well-located homes close to the heart of the city and integrate the new precinct with Blackwattle Bay and the new Sydney Fish Market.

“This is a generational opportunity to build a new suburb on the city’s edge and open the harbour foreshore to the public for the first time in a century.”&nbsp;

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said the new Bays West Delivery Authority established by the Minns Government will turbocharge the development of Sydney’s newest suburb.

“The Authority is working at a record pace to deliver an international design competition, planning pathways and a financial model so that this development benefits Sydney with well-designed homes in a central location, close to public transport, jobs, entertainment and essential services.

“If we want Sydney to stay liveable and affordable, we need to be bold about using underutilised government-owned land to deliver homes for the future while making sure essential working harbour functions can be accommodated.”

Bays West Delivery Authority established to "turbocharge" Sydney’s newest suburb

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

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Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

New Developments

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The $150 million Mon Komo development in South East Queensland from Kyko Group has totalled $10.848 million in sales for the first half of 2014.
The multi-tower <a href="https://www.monkomo.com.au/" target="_blank">Mon Komo </a>complex on the waterfront, on the Redcliffe Peninsula, sold 19 residential and short stay apartments in the past six months – a balance of owner occupiers and investors – between both towers. Of the buyers, 75% were from South East Queensland or Brisbane.
<img src="/images/2014/07/29/redliffe-july-29-three.jpg" alt="">
TOTAL Property Group managing director and Mono Komo marketing manager, Adrian Parsons, said that Redcliffe has been an evolving area, and the new development at 99 Marine Parade is becoming a local landmark.
“It has become a vibrant beachside suburb, ideally positioned close to Brisbane city, Brisbane Airport and Moreton Bay Region, while still encapsulating the relaxed, bayside lifestyle it is well-known for. 
“It is also being dubbed one of Queensland’s top property hotspots and boom suburbs by respected property analysts – spurring interest in the local market,” he said. 
It appears it’s <a href="/news/qld/close-to-11-million-of-new-apartment-sales-recorded-at-mon-komo-development-redcliffe">a slow burn for the development</a>, in February noting that they’d sold $11 million, or 17 of the apartments, over three months.
Prices in Mon Komo’s residential tower start from $325,000, and include one-bedrooms from 82 square metres up to three-bedroom plus study penthouses of 247 square metres. Short stay apartments are available from $275,000, from one-bedroom 58 square metre properties to 170 square metre configurations.
<img src="/images/2014/07/29/Mon%20Komo%20at%20Redcliffe.jpg" alt="">
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

South East Queensland development Mon Komo sells nearly $11 million in first half of 2014

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A 350-apartment development is coming to Brisbane's inner north.
The Arden Group has launched Jade, a $200 million master planned community set on 1.4 hectares by Ascot, Clayfield and Hamilton. The first sales stage will comprise 150 apartments over two six storey buildings. The first, called 'Sage', will have 60 apartments, while 'Fern' will have 90 apartments.
With completion expected in late 2015, the development will offer one, two and three bedroom apartments, ranging from 60 square metres to 160 square metres. Off the plan prices begin at $392,000, with the most expensive three bedroom apartment costing $990,000. Prices for the 24 three bedroom apartments begin at $670,000.
According to Arden Group director Steve Walsh, the development is located in a rapidly growing lifestyle market.
"Jade’s convenient location less than 10 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD and airport as well as its close proximity to Brisbane’s best urban restaurants and lifestyle precincts makes it an excellent choice for owner resident buyers,” said Walsh.
“High quality, affordable apartment product in Albion is hard to come by due to the suburb’s highly constrained land supplies and we’re anticipating a lot of interest in this particular development.
There will be four towers in total at Jade, each six levels high, with construction expected to complete in December 2015.
“Apartments of this size are experiencing the highest demand in a decade, particularly for young professionals looking for convenience and empty nesters looking to downsize and remain within easy reach of the city,” said Walsh.
“Combined with the development’s competitive price points and more buyers being drawn to property in the area, we’re expecting a strong level of enquiry.”
Jade will include three "park-like areas", with two barbecue areas. There will also be a gym and pool with sun deck and spa. Each apartment will include at least one secure basement car park.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Arden Group launches $200 million Albion development

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The much-offered, much altered 420 Spencer Street residential development project site, on the western gateway to Melbourne’s CBD, has been relisted for sale.
The West Melbourne offering now comes with approval for a 438 unit, 38 level tower designed by Fender Katsalidis Mirams.
<img src="/images/2014/07/30/west-melbourne-july-30-one.jpg" alt="">
It was one of the development sites given approval for tall residential towers by Planning Minister Matthew Guy in the so-called "Super Tuesday" announcement in February.
The project incorporates the art deco facade of the existing 1930s-era building, on Dudley Street, the former showrooms for Australian Glass Manufacturers.
<a href="https://rca.colliers.com.au/property-land+development-vic-melbourne-501225147" target="_blank">Colliers International’s Matt Stagg and Daniel Wolman</a> anticipate a price of $35 million plus. Offers are due August 28.
It is a 2,250 square metre property was last in the news in 2011, when the Planning Minister, Matthew Guy, approved the tower within an area that was quickly becoming a residential development hotspot.
<img src="/images/2014/07/30/4.jpg" alt="">
Constructed in 1930 as the headquarters showroom for Australian Glass Manufacturers, 420 Spencer Street was recognised by the National Trust for its then-modern design.
Back in 2003 then planning minister Mary Delahunty approved the building's demolition, to be replaced by a 26-level Fender Katsalidis tower. That tower would have risen 83 metres, three times council-supported height, and was another not to proceed.
The site last sold at $3.15 million in 2003 when bought by a company associated with Paul McBain.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Spencer Street, West Melbourne residential site offering with art deco facade

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Back in February 2012, I published a post on the subject “smaller apartments to be the norm, not the exception”. 
Now almost two and a half years later we are starting to see projects that were then on the drawing board either finished or mostly sold off the plan.
As was already apparent back in 2012, today the reality is that generally apartments have in fact gotten smaller. However, via skillful design and by responding to buyer feedback, smaller now also generally means better. While size is still important, it’s not the most important factor.
Over the same time frame Sydney has also retained it’s place (which depending upon your circumstances and point of view is either a good or bad thing) among the world’s most expensive cities to buy a home. In 2012 there was the certainty that new apartment designs were set to be smaller but also hopefully more efficient with changes being driven mainly by price ceiling constraints and lifestyle demands.
What we have seen over the intervening years has been a remarkable shift in design standards and buyers have also shown little or no resistance to smaller apartments. From a marketing perspective this shift has been driven by a number of factors, mainly quality, good planning and lifestyle shifts. But there has also been the expectation that smaller did not mean inferior.
Smaller Apartments, Big on Design
Apartment buyers are a pretty smart bunch, developers know this and as marketers we also respect how much more engaged buyers have become. When buyers approach off the plan projects they do so with confidence but that is also matched by a much more discriminating buyer.
There have been a number of key facts driving this trend. Higher prices are key; this applies to all buyers as investors are no less demanding of quality. There has also been greater competition for the best locations.
I get constant feedback that in a nut-shell goes like this: Buyers are looking for well-designed, carefully planned projects, that are well located, close to local shops (and that is within walking distance), with access to good public transport. Most buyers are willing to move down in apartment size, but they expect location and services to be top rate. They also have a clear checklist of what they expect internally.
I also think that this has a lot to do with market education that comes via reality TV. There are now so many home renovation shows and I think this has been a factor in educating buyers. They are more aware of good design.
Like the food revolution that has in part grown out of the saturation of cooking TV shows, I think the same can be linked to a cultural shift that has buyers thinking about the design and function of apartments. This also extends more than ever to the reputation of the developer and builder.
First Impressions
One of the most telling ways to judge how people are reacting to smaller and smarter projects is to see how they first respond, what questions are generally top of mind and what first impression is created at a sales and display centre.
They are very keen to see how the space is used; they look beyond the finishes to how the space will function and what the developer has done to make the space work.
I have also noticed buyers are keen to see how the project sits within the neighbourhood and what sort of brand message does the exterior design of the building broadcast. They are quick to spot gimmicks, but there is an appetite for themed buildings that reflect the local environment.
It’s fairly clear that a good project team has to work hard to get the mix just right, this is now essential as apartments are not seen as a stepping stone any more, they are home to more and more of us. Between 2009 and 2012 the supply of new apartments increased by 56% and over the same period the numbers of new detached dwellings fell by 13%.
Article continues on the next page. Please click below.
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Some Trends
Looking at one of our most recent developments, Woolooware Bay, near Cronulla, in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, there’s a variety of one, two and three bedroom apartments which range in size across an assortment of designs which include: (internal) 59 square metres for a one bed, 78 square metres for a two bed and 114 square metres for a three bed. These apartments being developed by Bluestone help highlight how good design is being delivered.
Some of the features include; a multi-purpose or shared zone, which might have been a media-nook or study, but has now evolved to a shared space for work, study or pleasure. Apartment kitchens have also evolved, perhaps more than any other area, kitchens are now almost a ‘piece of furniture’ with varied surfaces, textured finishes, display cupboards, recessed lighting, and so just having stainless steel appliances no longer makes the grade.
Other design features include the use of windows and balcony access to create good air circulation, and balconies even, when they are small, are now more private, attractive ‘rooms’. Most of the larger three bed apartments at Woolooware Bay provide balcony access from all main rooms and all bedrooms. The use of high-set windows and privacy screens are now more common features, and there’s a deliberate aim to create separation and privacy for bedrooms.
Another area of design, and this might well help make smaller apartments even more functional, is the use of technology to create ‘smart apartments’ where the push of a button might one day do much more than switch on the lights and TV.
We aren’t fully there yet, but at almost every consumer electronic show manufacturers now display even more smart-home devices. The spread of smart-phones and tablets could soon see apartments online and residents able to switch their lights on or off, tweak the air conditioning, order in dinner, and make sure those houseplants and pets are looked after.
Buyers are skeptical when it comes to ‘gimmicks’, but this does not mean that as apartments are smaller there is not a need for well-planned building facilities. Alongside better interior design these facilities have also evolved and in addition to lap pools and well-equipped BBQ areas. We now have contemplation gardens, wine cellars, common rooms, a library and indoor and outdoor cinemas. However, when these facilities are included, buyers are still keen to see strata levies at manageable levels alongside the focus on quality management.
The end result of all of these trends is the ready comprehension among developers and buyers that smaller apartments are workable and popular, but this needs to be balanced with really assiduous design, great quality and the continued quest for well thought-out locations and buildings with sought-after facilities.
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When it comes to apartments, smaller really can be better

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If you live in Melbourne, you no doubt recognise one of the many marks Jeff Xu has made on the city in recent years.
The property developer's Golden Age Group has had its fingers in hospitality, leisure and residential projects across Melbourne's CBD. You may have dined on dumplings at Hu Tong, warbled off-key at Rainbow Karaoke, or stayed at the new Sheraton Hotel at the top of Little Collins Street. Or perhaps you're bought into Xu's latest venture, the 75 storey Victoria One tower. 
The $350 million residential tower, coming to the corner of Elizabeth Street and Franklin Street, will bring 629 apartments to the western precinct of Melbourne's CBD.
According to Xu, the structure was built with the Victorian way of life in mind, with its green facade and fins reminiscent of the Victorian landscape. He said the apartments were intended for both investors and owner occupiers.
"We wanted to show that an investment product doesn't mean a cheap product," Xu said, adding that with a 24 hour concierge, the tower would "feel like a hotel".
The 241 metre tall tower on a 932 square metre site will include 115 one bedroom, 482 two bedroom and 32 three bedroom apartments, with two levels of commercial space facing Elizabeth and Franklin Streets. With the smallest apartment coming in at 41 square metres of floor space, the units would not meet proposed minimum space requirements for Melbourne apartments, which specify a 50 square metre minimum for one bedroom units.
But buyers don't seem to mind the squeeze: about 60% of the stock in Victoria One has already sold, with more than half going to local buyers. One bedroom apartments are priced from $370,000, with two bedroom apartments starting at $473,000 and three bedroom apartments selling from $890,000.
The tower will also include 163 car parks, a pool, spa, gym and a communal entertaining area. Construction is set to begin late this year, with completion due for 2016.
Xu and Golden Age continue to keep busy with other Australian projects, including The Emerald, a 282-apartment tower at 35 Albert Street. There is also 450 St Kilda Road, the low-rise overlooking the Botanical Gardens that Xu purchased from the Carter family for a reported $20 million sum earlier this year.
His CBD spending isn't reserved for towers and restaurants alone. Xu and affiliated parties were also major donors to Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle's re-election campaign.
With more than 1,000 apartments on the way, Xu isn't worried about the sustainability of Melbourne's appetite for high density inner city residences.
"We're not scared of the boom and bust cycle," said Xu. "That's where opportunities come from."
Property professionals are invited to sign up for the <a href="/news">upcoming Property Observer webinar on Off the Plan Marketing and Sales Masterclass</a>.
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Jeff Xu ushers in Melbourne's apartment age with Victoria One

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Each week I receive phone calls from people who have started a property development and then fallen into trouble.  
I can't help taking these SOS calls from fellow developers but I've noticed a pattern...there seems to be three different areas in which the issues fall:
<ul>
<li><a href="/expert-insights/the-three-most-common-first-time-property-developer-mistakes-site-selection">Site selection</a></li>
<li><a href="/expert-insights/the-most-common-first-time-property-developer-mistakes-team-selection">Team selection</a></li>
<li>Not understanding the development process</li>
</ul>
The development process is complex - there is no two ways about it. Even what may seem the most simplest development can turn into a very time consuming project.  Although Property Bloom has completed over 80 developments, all of which I have personally overseen, I still find tiny nuances that make each development unique and challenging. 
However, if you have some understanding of the steps needed to be taken on your property development journey, then the development process can be simplified.
The development process can be broken down into a number of steps:
 
<ul>
<li>
Research or due diligence  Most of your research should have been done by now because choosing  the right location for your development cannot be underestimated. Once you've narrowed down the area you're going to work in, you need to research the needs of your target market.  Your target market is either the people you'll be renting to if you hold onto the dwellings you build or the people you'll be selling to. What do they want in a property? You need to balance this with what you can afford to build, always be careful not to overcapitalise by assuming you have to give everything. 
</li>
<li>
Designing your project is the next step in the process. Use either a builder's design and make some minor changes to suit your needs or use an architect or drafting service to design exactly what you want. In more upmarket areas, you may want to deliver something more unique so spending time and money on coming up with the right design is important. 
</li>
<li>
The planning process is another very important processes. Ensure you are meeting the requirements of the local council's Development Control Plan and Local Environmental Plan. This is complex and unless you want to spend days studying these enormous documents, engage a planning consultant or architect that understand these local requirements. This should save time so when you lodge your DA there should be little hold up in having to make changes to your plans. 
</li>
<li>
Engineering for storm water management, driveways and slab design is required to obtain the final approval of your Construction Certificate. Again, engage a good engineer but make sure you have a basic understanding of what they are designing.  Don't be afraid to ask questions. I was able to reduce some costs on a three villa project by questioning the number of storm water detention tanks required under the driveway. I knew each tank meant more costs so just by asking the engineer to check the water volume calculations meant  if we could cut two of the eight tanks required in that project. 
</li>
<li>
Once you have all your Planning Consents, then it's important to have a good understanding of the building process which will help you as you review your builder's contract. You need to understand terms such as 'Provisional Items' and 'Excluded items' as if one of these blows out, so can your development profit.  Check the contract and discuss with the builder so that they can explain clauses to you. You can also have your solicitor look over the contract. Many builders will use a standard Housing Industry Association contract. Check the drawdown schedule as this will impact on your holding costs. 
</li>
<li>
Maximising your finance and getting the best deal is an important step in the process.  Your bank will need a number of documents such as the consents and builder's contract before they can give you unconditional finance approval. Make sure you allocate four to eight weeks in your schedule to get your finance in place. This often draws out depending on how slow your bank is. The longer they take, the more holding costs you are paying waiting for finance. Your builder cannot start construction without a Letter to Commence from your bank. 
</li>
<li>
Once the builder has this permission to commence work, you move into an exciting but still risky part of the development - the build phase. The main area for cost variation can be in the site preparations and slab work. Until your site is cut, retained and slabs are piered and then laid you will not really know the true costs of your building works as most Provisional items are loaded into this early stage of building works. 
</li>
<li>
It's exciting to see your project come out of the ground and as the building works draw to a close, the process then moves into the completion stage. Now you need to maximize your rental and depreciation benefits or sale return. You will need to choose your management or sales agent carefully. Brief your quantity surveyor at this point to start work on your depreciation schedules and make sure you include all consultant fees, including project management if you have used a professional project manager.   
</li>
<li>
You cannot relax just yet. You need to, attend the practical completion and handover inspections with your builder and have a good understanding of their warranty periods. You need to obtain Occupation Certificates which will not be issued unless everything is complete.
</li>
</ul>
 
As project managers, our job is to manage all the fine details of the development process. There are many areas that need your undivided attention at the time. 
As part of our project management process, we prepare a detailed weekly report for clients including milestones met that week, goals for the following week to achieve and photos showing the progress. Also included is news reports in the local area that may impact on the end result. Our job is to focus entirely on the process so that our clients don't have to. It can be beneficial for inexperienced developers to use a project manager to minimise and help them through the challenges a property development can bring.
<a href="https://www.propertybloom.com.au" target="_blank">www.propertybloom.com.au</a>
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jochivers-wq5Bp59R5a

The most common first time property developer mistakes: Not understanding the development process

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The first homes and roads at Mirvac’s Harold Park residential Glebe development have been opened, marking the completion of Harold Park’s first precinct, Locarno.
It comprises 298 apartments and terraces in the precinct that will see around 2,500 people live in the 10.6 hectare park side development.
It was August 2011 when Mirvac began marketing its proposed <a href="https://haroldparkbymirvac.com" target="_blank">Harold Park</a> development less than a week after taking ownership of the former harness racing ground. The first sales came in November when prices started from $499,000 for studios, one bedders from $550,000; two bedroom apartments from $775,000; and three bedroom units from $1,245,000.
<img src="/images/2014/07/24/locarno%20harold%20park.jpg" alt="">
Mirvac’s CEO and managing director, Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, said today that Harold Park set a benchmark for residential development, balancing density, sustainability and quality of life.
“The inner-city will gain a new park that leads right down to the harbour, another two km of cycle paths, easier access to Jubilee light rail station and a new community space with the proposed future restoration and adaptive reuse of the Tramsheds." Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said.
"Sustainability was at the heart of the way in which Mirvac conducted its business, developing land for housing and employment,” she said.
Harold Park exceeds BASIX targets by 25%.
"That in turn means it offers a better quality of living for residents and becomes an asset for the whole community,” she added.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the project was an "achievement for the city".
"The people who will live here will be blessed," she said.
<img src="/images/2014/07/24/harold%20july%2025%20one.jpg" alt="">
Buildings and roads at Harold Park acknowledge the champions of the paceway from 1911 until the final race in December 2010. 
The first precinct, Locarno, was named after the 1980 Miracle Mile Winner, driven by New Zealand owner-trainer Robin Butt, who was at Harold Park for the official opening.
The newly opened streets, Grattan Close and Scotsman Street, were inspired by 1974 Miracle Mile winner Hondo Grattan and the 1979 winner The Scotsman. 
Construction of Harold Park began in 2012, with completion anticipated in 2017. More than 4000 jobs will be generated throughout the life of the project. 
Strong sales have meant that release dates for the six Harold Park precincts have typically been brought forward to meet demand. The most recent precinct release, Altivolo, sold out in a day and Mirvac is currently awaiting DA approval for the fifth precinct.
Some 900 sales have been achieved to date.
With an estimated $30 million cost, the Tram Shed Depot at the northern end of the site, built in 1904 to serve Sydney’s growing network of tram lines, will be adaptively reused to become a market style retail destination and community hub.
HISTORIC TIMELINE FOR HAROLD PARK 
1828 – Suburb of Glebe proclaimed
1890 – Harold Park established with pony racing, trotting, bicycle races and athletics the featured events. 
1904 – Rozelle Tram Depot built to the north of the racecourse and brought punters in their thousands. 
1929 - The racecourse was officially re-named Harold Park 
1939 – US Army commandeered the park for use through the Second World War. 
1958 – Rozelle Tram Depot closed when the Glebe line shut down. 
1967 – Harold Park’s signature race, the Miracle Mile, was introduced. 
1987 – Greyhound racing, which had begun in the inter-war period, ended. 
1987 – Live televising of races which marked the end of the big crowds at Harold Park. 
2009 – The NSW Harness Racing Club moved to Tabcorp Park at Menangle. 
2010 – Site sold to Mirvac 
2010 – On Friday 17 December, the last race meeting was held at Harold Park. 
2012 – City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore turned the first sod 
2014 – On 24 July, The Lord Mayor and Mirvac CEO and Managing Director Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz declare the first precinct, Locarno, officially open. 
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"Blessed" buyers start residing in Mirvac's Harold Park 

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Charter Hall launched the start of construction for their 333 George Street office building project last night, with the support of Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
The new office building at <a href="https://333george.com.au/" target="_blank">333 George Street</a> will include 12,500 square metres of open, flexible office space on 15 levels, aiming to be part of the wave of flexible working, or hot-desking, that has been an increasingly popular trend. It has been designed by Grimshaw and Crone Partners, with construction partners Watpac.
It also includes 2,100 square metres of retail at street level. The entire development is valued at $250 million.
Typical office spaces will be 970 square metres in adaptable configurations, and the entire building is targeting a 5 star NABERS rating.
Moore explained to Property Observer that the revitalization of George Street is one of the city's larger current ongoing projects, and will take some years to complete. While surrounding laneways such as Angel Place will be the focus of revitalisation efforts, Moore pointed to Town hall as a potential next project.
<img src="/images/2014/07/24/ignite-july-24-three.jpg" alt="">
Speaking at the construction launch, held at 1 Martin Place, Moore said developments like the 333 George Street project are Sydney needs to stay abreast of its international competitors.
However, the journey has not been straightforward for the site. This was Charter Hall's third acquisition, and among all of their $7 billion worth of office buildings, managing director David Harrison said it was one of their most exciting. They have 100% ownership as the developer, through Core Plus Office Fund.
Despite being an early acquisition, it took some time for the project to be completed. Harrison said that the GFC did delay the project, but that it was always a “crappy building in a magnificent location… Martin Place is the business core of Sydney CBD”. The existing building, that's currently in demolition phase, is a 1970s construction.
The building is neighboured by retail outlets including Louis Vuitton, Burberry and an Apple store.
Tenant pre-commitments for the development are being sought, with completion expected for mid-2016.
Charter Hall is well known for their Melbourne work on 171 Collins Street.
It seems the City of Sydney and Charter Hall are focused on one word: "vision".
The concept of a vision for the site was mentioned by many at the launch event, and is the focus of their marketing material for the development.
<img src="/images/2014/07/24/ignite-july-24-one.jpg" alt="">
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The vision for Sydney's George Street

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The subtly marketed Sydney Olympic Park Opal Tower has selected Bates Smart to undertake the architectural design.
The 30-level apartment <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/Opaltower.com.au" target="_blank">Opal Tower</a> from developer Ecove will have green walls and elevated communal courtyards every five levels.
It is the fourth residential building from Ecove and will be the most prominent of the Australia Avenue set.
 Bates Smart had previously designed stage two and three – Australia Towers II and One Australia Avenue, which are scheduled for completion in late-2014 and mid-2015 respectively.
Australia Avenue II is 25 storeys, while One Australia Avenue is 30 storeys. All three of the towers have so far sold out, with 216, 287 and 320 apartments for the three stages.
Opal Tower will bring large four-bedroom apartments to market of around 160 square metres internally, and on the upper levels with views to Homebush Bay, Sydney CBD and Bicentennial Park.
Marketing director of Ecove, Sue Ballesty, said that they are an alternative to a family home and that these are something in retrospect they would have built previously.
“We will be one of the few apartment developers in Sydney catering for families,” said Ballesty.
First tower, Australia Towers, currently has more than 600 residents since its 2012 completion.
“The influx of residents has made Sydney Olympic Park into a fully functioning suburb,” she said.
“There is a real sense of community here, and residents appreciate the benefits of living in the sporting and entertainment heart of Sydney and having 430 hectares of parklands as their backyards.”
Marketing isn’t <a href="/expert-insights/buying/subtle-marketing-but-opal-tower-not-expected-to-see-bad-luck">expected to start until later this year</a>.
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Sydney Olympic Park’s Opal Tower selects architect

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The Pace Development Group has secured the Smith Family headquarters in Collingwood.
The prominent 1,139-square-metre site, will now get an apartment complex, Nina, named after the Nina Proudman character in Channel 10 series Offspring, which is filmed around Collingwood.
Pace directors Shane Wilkinson and Cameron Yates, who presumably are fans of the Asher Keddie-played role, expect to start off the market marketing the apartments next year.
The Smith Family bought the Collingwood building 15 years ago with plans to now relocate to smaller, leased premises and use money from the sale of 73-77 Wellington Street for statewide education programs.
The building was built in the 1970s so showing its age and is no longer appropriate to The Smith Family’s needs.
The Smith Family’s Victorian general manager, Anton Leschen, said the sale reflected the charity’s desire to make sure its resources weren’t tied up unnecessarily.
The site is bound by Cambridge, Langridge and Wellington streets.
<a href="https://www.realcommercial.com.au/property-land+development-vic-collingwood-501171563" target="_blank">It sold through CBRE for $8.8 million earlier this month</a>, so apartment design plans are yet to become available.
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