Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

Joel Robinson

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more international and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party

Review

Bayside City Council has unanimously approved the development of the Fender Katsalidis designed Noetic Place&nbsp;Hampton for local developer Noetic Places.

The permit approval comes after an extensive community consultation process led by local developer Noetic Places, who secured the 3,662 sqm site at 28-34 Service Street last year. Construction on the refined $80 million residential project&nbsp;is set&nbsp;to commence later this year, with completion staged for 2025.&nbsp;

Approval was granted by&nbsp;Bayside City Council in May with the uncontested permit formally issued&nbsp;on June 8.&nbsp; The outcome is the result of an intensive community engagement process that included seven town halls and over 80 one-on-one meetings.&nbsp; The project received 12 submissions of support and glowing reviews from local councillors.

Noetic Places bought the site, which has 70 metre of north-facing street frontage, with Brisbane-based Orchid Vue Group, who have a minority stake, for $17.3 million in 2022.&nbsp; A previous owner was unsuccessful negotiating meaningful development plans causing extensive public concern among the protective local community, the local council, and garnering media attention covering the passionate public debate.&nbsp;

Noetic Place&nbsp;Hampton will be a collection of 32 sustainable residences created primarily for the local owner-occupier market comprising down-sizers, returning expats, and aspirational younger families. The development will have a lush garden setting and is located in the centre of&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;being walking distance to a wide variety of retail and speciality stores, cafes, restaurants and leisure facilities. The site is&nbsp;450 metres from&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;Train Station and 600 metres from&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;Beach.

The newly approved plans allow the 3,662 sqm site to be transformed into upscale residences including generously-scaled&nbsp;two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as one four-bedroom penthouse.&nbsp;

<img alt="Hampton Noetic Place" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8533cc9e-0712-4c0e-a59c-697b3c08925e" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-06-30%20at%2010.07.17%20am.png?VersionId=i9z1nQZfc.lt6u_4Ce_g94PU2tbo5X6a" />

Speaking at the council meeting, Bayside mayor Hanna El Mouallem said he was “impressed” with the application, and the project responded to the local need for architecturally crafted apartment offerings that appeal to local downsizers.

“What [FK] has done here is designed to serve the site, to serve the surrounding, and also to serve the buyers who want and are crying out for these apartments. We need to encourage this type of architecture, to attract people who want to downsize and remain in&nbsp;Hampton. And that's exactly what this application has done,” Cr El Mouallem said&nbsp;

Noetic Places director Stephen Barrow-Yu, a&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;resident, says his affinity for the area and the expertise gained form his current bayside project, Reunion Place, led him to pursue the challenging site.&nbsp;

“What’s really important here is the trust and authentic connection with the neighbouring community," Barrow Yu said.

"Many developers wouldn’t have done what we have done because our core focus is on unity with our community and a design that meets the future needs of the immediate environs.&nbsp; For us, these elements were considered ahead of the project margins.&nbsp; We can now move towards producing a development of lasting beauty that will align with the needs of the future residents"

Barrow-Yu says a&nbsp;major point of differentiation with this site is the extensive consultation with the local community.

"[This] enabled us to develop concepts that encompass sustainability via a future-proofed design and construction. Importantly the project will meld with the aesthetic of the local streetscapes including landscape elements creating an immediate familial yet refined atmosphere."

Local&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;residents said they&nbsp;viewed the process and the development itself as&nbsp;“a testimony to the value of open interaction between the developer and the neighbours”.

Architects from Fender Katsalidis were actively involved in the consultation process, attending neighbourhood engagement sessions at venues across the area, from local restaurants to neighbours’ living rooms. Eckersley Garden Architecture, Urban Planning Collective and Vorhaben project management had active roles in the community liaison resulting in a timeless design with gardens complimenting the existing treescape and spaces created for both gathering and serenity&nbsp;

Fender Katsalidis director James Pearce says the open dialogue with&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;residents has led to better commercial and design outcomes including a vision of what owners in 20-30 years will value.&nbsp; This includes the capacity for every car parking space to have an electric charging station, significant solar paneling and space for batteries repositories.&nbsp;Forethought has also been given to water storage beyond regulated minimums.&nbsp;

“Our team and the whole community has invested in creating an outcome that benefits everyone, and together we have achieved something very special,” Pearce says.

<h3>Key design features of Noetic Place&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;include:</h3>

<ol start="1" type="1">
	<li>A design with two distinct entry points allowing the development to visually present like three buildings with scale variance.</li>
	<li>Two basement levels and three above ground levels.&nbsp; The top level has been set back to give an even more varied composition.</li>
	<li>A landscaping green belt softens the interface with neighbours. Mature trees will be planted so that from the onset the residence will look established in the current streetscape.</li>
	<li>A setback from the footpath with the roof line of third floor hardly visible.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Native vegetation, with a palette of soft greys and olive, complements the building’s materials where light sandy brick and warm metal tones are being inspired by&nbsp;Hampton&nbsp;beach and the leafy neighbourhood’s iconic Edwardian homes.</li>
	<li>A large communal garden space with a carefully retained mahogany gum tree further enhanced by a garden pavilion housing a library and kitchenette for residents.</li>
	<li>A concealed garage entry through a timber top box will later be covered in vines.</li>
</ol>

Noetic Place Hampton will be a collection of 32 sustainable residences created primarily for the local owner-occupier market comprising down-sizers, returning expats, and aspirational younger families

Noetic Place Hampton gets greenlight from Bayside City Council

Victoria has experienced the highest clearance of land in the developed world due to development; a situation compounded by Australia having the highest rate of species extinction globally.

Melbourne-based developer Sunkin Property Group is attempting to reverse this trend with their recently launched project, Highett Common.

Sunkin Property Group’s unique approach to the masterplanned development leads with conservation, followed by the built form.&nbsp; It’s an approach not typically taken by property developers, which will see four hectares of natural green space conserved within the 9.34-hectare development.

Nature based placemaking, conservation and connected urban design, with a focus on preserving and enhancing the local environment, were important considerations for the multi-stage project.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212651]

“When approaching the precinct’s design, we were committed to protecting the site’s natural eco-system and opening the conservation area and new green spaces up to the public,” said General Manager Development at Sunkin Property Group, Lloyd Collins.

“We considered how we could integrate native species and shrubbery from the conservation area throughout the entire site. It was important for us that the residential apartments and new green spaces act an extension of the existing local parkland."

The planned conservation area will support native vegetation, such as mature natural woodland, in the Bayside region. Within the 3ha conservation area, 28 existing River Red Gum and rare Yellow Box mature trees will be retained along with rare grasses. Bayside City Council will manage public access and conservation long term.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212656]

Locally endangered Plains Grassy Woodland trees will be protected on-site, alongside 300 year-old eucalyptus trees. These trees will provide food resources for the threatened Grey-headed Flying-fox. Conservation efforts will ensure the survival of 25 vertebrate native fauna species, both indigenous and planted. The on-site fauna habitat will provide resources for local wildlife and help attract native birds back to the Highett area.

Tract, the landscape architect behind the revitalisation of the Great Ocean Road Trail, was appointed to assist in the site’s native preservation. The group have taken their unique experience within public landscape conservation to an urban setting; designing a coastal inner pocket to ensure the protection of Highett’s existing natural habitat.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212653]

Tract sought to conserve native fauna and flora throughout the site after close analysis of the site’s natural eco-system and consultation with local conservation groups and Council. Natural vegetation from the southern conservation area is designed within the new 1ha public park, deep planted Mews and footpath areas between buildings, extensive nature strips and bio-swale drainage areas. Integrating the natural environment throughout the length of the development will grant residents a constant connectivity to nature.

In keeping with the conservation brief for the development, 100 per cent of the newly planted fauna and flora on-site will be indigenous to the Bayside area. This unique approach to plant selection will create and restore natural habitats and draw in local native species. Sunkin and Tract are also working with the local Bayside Community Nursery to supply locally grown plants to the development as part of a wider sustainability partnership.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

“It was highly unusual to be briefed as the lead consultant, particularly on a project of this scale. It has allowed us the opportunity to truly prioritise the natural landscape, and design to connect it seamlessly to the built form,” Mariano Lopez, Senior Principal Landscape Architect at Tract, says.

The Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action reports that 10,380ha of native vegetation are cleared from private land in Victoria annually, leading to the loss of native species, habitats, and eco-systems. These figures demonstrate how property developers can play a crucial role in preserving Victoria’s unique biodiversity for generations to come.

Resident health and wellbeing were prioritised when approaching the precinct design. According to a recent study by leading environmental scientists, people who spend at least two hours in nature per week are more likely to report higher levels of positive physical and mental health. Highett Common’s smallest residents will also benefit from the integration of natural elements throughout the site.

A nature-play approach to the playground will encourage interaction with the local environment, and the use of tactile materials has been considered to ensure integration with native landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212652]

The built form, designed by award-winning architect ClarkeHopkinsClarke, features sustainability initiatives that integrate into the entire site. Solar panels have been incorporated into the design to reduce energy consumption and resident power bills. The removal of gas from the site means homes will rely solely on green electricity, and electric vehicle charging facilities will be accessible for residents.

For residents without cars, Highett Common is within close proximity to Highett train station, and ground-level bicycle parking is located in each residential building.

Civil Construction works for the entire Highett Common masterplan have already commenced, after a $10 million works program was actioned by Sunkin. Early basement works are targeted to commence in the second half of 2023, with Stage 1 completion targeted for late 2025.

The townhomes as part of Highett Common will launch Q3 2023.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108019]

Sunkin Property Group’s unique approach to the masterplanned development leads with conservation, followed by the built form

Highett Common: 2023’s largest urban renewal precinct prioritises conservation and enhancement of green space

Stones Corner, a fringe suburb of Woollangabba in Brisbane, wasn't even a suburb until 2017, it was officially a "precinct" within the suburb of Greenslopes.

It became a suburb in 2017, but sat on the sidelines to the Wooloongabba. But since the announcement of the&nbsp;2032 Brisbane Olympics, developers have started to&nbsp;purchase sites, submitting applications, and launching new projects.

Veteran Brisbane developer Stockwell is the latest to take advantage of the area's location, albeit with an asset they've owned for over 15 years.

They're looking to redevelop Stones Corner Village, its 3,395 sqm retail and dining precinct just off Hanlon Park.&nbsp;

<img alt="Stones Corner Village" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6fdb4ed7-fc20-4626-86db-4ae299721018" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-06-19%20at%209.21.17%20am.png?VersionId=QQcEN7dNz4BdZ37Y6S3ns8hYur9N0y5j" />The perspective from Logan Road. Image credit: MK Architecture

They've proposed a new mixed-used precinct at 405 Logan Road, which will incorporate 209 apartments across two towers, dubbed Logan and Cleveland, which will sit above 3,000 sqm of retail.

Logan will have 110 two, three and four-bedroom apartments, and Cleveland will comprise 99 one, two and three-bedroom units. Both towers have been designed by MK Architecture.

Stockwell have owned the 5,709 sqm site since 2006, which currently homes 20 retailers and is anchored by an Aldi. Over 500 new car parking spaces will be provided, and 252 bicycle spaces.

<img alt="Stones Corner Village" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a405b295-19e0-4fe6-b487-f74b548ef45a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-06-19%20at%209.21.24%20am.png?VersionId=gQJKGcNmSwjBrwOa7Lzgl1NnQ2kHNhT8" />The perspective from Cleveland Street. Image credit: MK Architecture

Archipelago Architects were commissioned to create a Suburban Renewal Opportunities Analysis, which noted there were a number of major landholders in the Stones Corner precinct, who have ownership of consolidated properties.

"These consolidated landholdings present opportunities for catalyst development within the precinct," the report noted.

"Many of these properties span the width of blocks between different streets and present opportunities to improve connectivity."

The report said Stones Corner was once a busy retail strip where the factory outlets were situated, however since early 2000, a chain of events have led to a large number of vacancies along the once bustling strip.

Stockwell's project not far from Hanlon Park, which has recently been transformed into "an attractive and versatile public space that supports the growing Stones Corner Precinct – creating a vibrant urban oasis with more to see and do”.

<img alt="Stones Corner Village" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="98ed5048-d937-4d0b-8023-f76ab3cc7208" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-06-19%20at%209.16.25%20am.png?VersionId=9f9vQgqT8vuyC33N9egfZEx0RGWck2cY" /> 
The location of the Stones Corner Village. Image credit: MK Architecture

Stockwell have also submitted a development application for another 96 apartments in West End, on a 1,986 sqm site at 399 Montague Street.

MK Architecture have again handled the designs. There will be&nbsp;32 one-bed apartments at 50 sqm, 48 two-bedders between 71 sqm and 83 sqm, and 16 three-bedroom apartments with 110 sqm of space.

That unnamed tower will be crowned with a rooftop amenity level with a swimming pool. A podium will feature 584 sqm of retail space and 1,290 sqm of commercial.

<img alt="Stockwell West End" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="10f72628-f4d2-459c-8d39-9bbb45c47444" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-06-19%20at%209.19.08%20am.png?VersionId=UJXB.NXVcjniah7sN5jsGFTFQmJ5ppaJ" /> 
The plans for 399 Montague Street, West End. Image credit: MK Architecture

RPS wrote in the town planning report that over the&nbsp;coming years, South Brisbane will emerge as a vibrant new urban community, confident of its place in Brisbane’s heart.

"A short walk from the CBD, South Brisbane will be a new sub tropical inner-city community with a mix of contemporary apartments, state-of-the art offices and world-class cultural venues, educational facilities and accommodation.

"It will be a place to learn, shop, dine, visit and celebrate mixed within a urban forest. South Brisbane will capture the rhythm and spirit of Brisbane’s outdoor lifestyle, opening up subtropical boulevards, laneways and pocket parks to the people for play, relaxation and civic events."

Veteran Brisbane developer Stockwell is the latest to take advantage of the area's location, albeit with an asset they've owned for over 15 years

First look: Stockwell plot Stones Corner Village redevelopment

Downsizers Henry and Sandra share why they decided to purchase their new home at Aura by Aqualand in North Sydney.

Watch the video to learn more:

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c3M4azLt5yg" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>AURA AT A GLANCE</h2>

Address:&nbsp;168 Walker Street, North Sydney 
Developer: Aqualand 
Architect:&nbsp;<a href="/architects/woods-bagot">Woods Bagot</a>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=30959]

Staff Writer

BUYER TESTIMONIAL: How Sandra and Henry found their dream home at Aura by Aqualand in North Sydney

DASCO, a 30-year-old family-run construction and development business, was one of the first companies to achieve a coveted 4.5-star iCIRT rating in NSW – and they are now among the first to go through the rigorous assessment process for the second time.

The Independent Construction Industry Rating Tool (iCIRT) was created by Equifax in consultation with the public and private sector. The tool pulls together thousands of data points to understand the character, capability, capacity and other vital aspects of developers and building professionals and provides a rating of between one and five stars.

It’s an investment that DASCO co-owners Daniel and Sam Nicolas are more than happy to make, with the group having achieved their rating in February 2022, and now preparing for their rating review.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=203070]

With many developers now realising the importance of the rating, DASCO are seeing the benefits, receiving engagements to help attract confident purchasers to their projects.&nbsp;

“We have had situations where buyers have come to us specifically because of the rating, and even getting deposits on other competing projects refunded so they can buy with us. We’ve always been confident in our quality, but having the rating to prove it gives buyers incredible confidence and that’s definitely translating into sales,” Daniel said.&nbsp;

“The trust from buyers is returning – the industry has gone through some significant challenges in the past few years, and we see the iCIRT as key to restoring trust in and revitalising the industry.”

With more than 1,200 dwellings in the pipeline, DASCO sees the rating tool as an integral part of building and protecting their brand and reputation.

“The iCIRT rating was an extremely detailed process to go through, however, the benefits that we’ve seen and how we’ve improved our systems have already started to pay off."

‘We have had developers tell us that they’ve entrusted their projects to us as builders because the iCIRT rating has given them confidence in our ability to deliver. We’ve also heard from sales agents that our 4.5 star rating has given off-the-plan buyers assurances about our reliability,” Salim said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203619]

DASCO is working with Kassis Homes on 192 apartments with 2,000 sqm open space at Grand Rève at Castle Hill. Managing Director Sam Kassis signed up with DASCO before the iCIRT was awarded based on his knowledge of the company and its good reputation.

“We have known the DASCO team is innovative and experienced with a proven track record, but the iCIRT rating has provided a real edge over others in the market. It really means something to buyers, and we can see that confidence reflected in the strength of early sales at Grand Rève,” said Kassis.

DASCO is also working with Top Spring on 323 apartments at The Newlands in St Leonards, a luxury mid-rise development in the Lower North Shore.

A Stage 2 DA for an approved masterplan consisting of 376 apartments, with circa 800 sqm of retail, indoor gym and rooftop pool and many other amenities, such as an outdoor boot camp, walking trails and communal garden and barbecue areas, in Epping is currently under assessment with the NSW Department of Planning.

The rating tool was introduced in response to reforms introduced in NSW in recent years and is intended to improve transparency and assist in lifting construction capability and consumer confidence in residential buildings within the state.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=94147 project_image_fid=203071]

NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler joined a recent industry forum hosted by DASCO where their rating journey was shared with financiers, competitors, trade contractors, real estate marketers and insurers. Chandler told the forum that the NSW industry reforms were having a profound effect at all levels.

“There is an obvious shift in the respect now being given across the entire building ecosystem from designer to contractors and manufacturers. Suddenly sharing the imperative to restore trust in the industry and reverse the previous race to the bottom has taken hold,” he said.

The Building Commissioner also pointed out the growing value being placed on the new rating system by financiers and insurers. Having rated players delivering complex projects, like the integrated developments involving apartments, improves the quality of the debt that is required to fund and own these assets.

The iCIRT scheme is restoring confidence and building momentum in the construction industry, particularly at a time of rising demand for high-quality housing developments.

Equifax's Head of Product and Rating Services, Brad Walters said&nbsp;iCIRT brings much-needed visibility to an industry where reliable&nbsp;objective data has up until now been hard to come by.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24509 project_image_fid=203623]

"It applies an independent, holistic and evidenced-based assessment, boosting trust in the industry and giving more confidence to buyers,” Walters said.

“The iCIRT system is building momentum with more than 91 companies already rated and 238 more in the pipeline. I want more companies to be like DASCO and look critically at their business and respond to feedback in the iCIRT process,” Chandler said.&nbsp;

ICIRT ratings are giving insurance providers and financiers extra confidence to engage and invest with highly-rated companies.

“As more small and large companies take the time to invest in their business and get certified, we’re going to see longer-term business resilience, more confident buyers and investors, and more reliable, trustworthy buildings that will stand the test of time,” said Chandler.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

DASCO joins group of highly-rated builders and developers in NSW with iCIRT rating

Aria Property Group have come a long way since their first multi-residential development on the Sunshine Coast in the early 2000’s.

While they're currently creating some of the best apartment developments in Brisbane, in both sustainability and design, the path Aria and its senior management has taken over the last two decades wasn't a particularly well-trodden one.

I recently caught up with Aria's longtime Development Director Brent Liddell, who was a founding member of Aria alongside fellow Development Director Michael Hurley, Managing Director Tim Forrester, and Chief Financial Officer David Marsland.

The trio all went to school with each other on the Sunshine Coast.

"Tim and I have never not worked together," Liddell says, having worked with Tim's dad in the first holidays out of school.

Tim's dad was property developer Rod Forrester, who co-founded the previously ASX-listed developer FKP Limited. They at one time was the biggest owner and operator of retirement villages in Australia and New Zealand.

Liddell said the experience they got at such a young age from Rod and senior figures in the development industry was invaluable.&nbsp;

And while they spent the first six or seven years developing residential and industrial and even subdivision, everywhere from Ipswich and Caboolture and even the USA, Liddell says they learnt the hard way as they never became the master of anything.

"We call those the apprenticeship years," Liddell says.

The aforementioned "apprenticeship years" however came to an abrupt halt when the GFC hit Australia. It was then when Aria narrowed their focus just to Brisbane, and just to apartments.

Having grown up on the Sunshine Coast, their self-confessed lack of knowledge of Brisbane somewhat worked in their favour.

"We just sort of ended up here, but we never really understood the difference between north and south Brisbane as none of us were from there," Liddell recalls.

"South Brisbane had the art gallery's, Southbank, and all the transport infrastructure in place, but the prices were half the price of Fortitude Valley and New Farm. It never made any sense to us."

So Aria went on a spending spree in the early 2000's, and as the business grew, they decided to shift their focus primarily to Brisbane's inner south and create mixed-use project, and dispose of the rest.

They stake claim to the first completed project in Brisbane post the GFC in 2010, and haven't looked back. Since then they've&nbsp;ventured into the Gabba, Kangaroo Point, and East Brisbane.

Much like the GFC but not quite as challenging for Aria, the team were afforded a similar pause for breathe where they reviewed their next steps. And that next step was sustainability.

"Among the three of us we have something called BHAGs, Big Hairy Audacious Goals," Liddell says.

"We said: 'why not go on this quest for our fifth pillar of our developments as sustainability.'"

Aria had played with a few things over the years, trying out solar panels on the roof of projects, rain water harvesting and smart irrigation, double glazing, timers and sensors through our common areas, green walls and or extensive landscaping in every building.

"We knew we wouldn't see a huge return, but we also knew it was the right thing to be doing in the projects."

<div>Their first cab off the rank with the new sustainability lens was Riviere in Kangaroo Point, which is due for completion in July.</div>

<div><img alt="Riviere Kangaroo Point" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4b211da5-90ef-407f-9955-005ffdafeb85" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-21%20at%201.59.03%20pm.png?VersionId=XuaQfQVikK4LqAfRlDISipgLQYTVJSme" />A render of the rooftop from Riviera. Image supplied</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>"It's as much as we've done on any project," Liddell suggests.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The whole roof is covered with solar. Energy harvested during the day is used through a battery at night. The lobbies are cross-ventilated, and each apartments features an innovative front door. Sitting in front of a regular front door is a mesh-like lockable door which allows breezes to come through the lobby and into the apartment.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>There's 124 apartments across the 12-level building at 480 Main Street, as well as 2,150 sqm of residential amenity. Part of their sustainability initiatives, Aria disclose on every project how many trees and plants they use as part of the development to both reduce carbon emissions and bring more green to apartment living. Riviere utilised over 8,000. Aria projects will have over 100,000 plants and trees by 2032.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>There's also Trellis, which is expected to be wrapped up mid this year. That has a facade which fully opens up, an interpretation of the modern Queenslander with a big verandah. Aria is hoping to offset 100 per cent of the electricity with solar at Trellis.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>[smartcode_project:default project_id=108278 project_image_fid=173592]</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Construction timelines are around the same for Upper House, which will be a striking addition to the city skyline due to the "birds nest" roof.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>The striking timber ribbons have been hoisted up to the top of the tower. They were made by a woodworker from Italy who came over to Australia for three months to install the ribbons.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div><img alt="Upper House Aria" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="410ede19-e079-4962-af1b-5db533d1239a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-04-21%20at%202.00.58%20pm.png?VersionId=kGJyXxURXWMSPCzPwYeKLoHiZoUdAauA" />A render of the rooftop at Upper House Image supplied</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Their most recent project is Canopy House. It had all the sustainability overlays too, sold extremely strongly at the end of last year and is now under construction.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>They'll be launching the second stage of TreeHouse in the next few months, called Casamia, having secured the neighbouring site since selling out the initial Jane Street tower.</div>

<div>&nbsp;</div>

<div>Aria has also just filed an application for a <a href="/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-aria-lodge-plans-for-curved-south-brisbane-tower">curved 30-level tower on Cordelia Street</a>, just up the road from their Fish Lane Precinct where they developed the award-winning project, The Standard.</div>

I recently caught up with Aria's longtime Development Director Brent Liddell, who was a founding member of Aria alongside Managing Director Tim Forrester and Chief Financial Officer David Marsland

How Aria have honed their craft over the last two decades

Glen Iris locals Andrea and Wayne recently secured not one, but two apartments in the new Glen Iris apartment development, Galerie.

They're amalgamating the two apartments to become on large apartment.

We recently spoke with Andrea and Wayne to talk about their purchase.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NrDuugdzE3Y" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>GALERIE AT A GLANCE</h2>

Address:&nbsp;1538-1540 High Street, Glen Iris 
Developer:&nbsp;<a href="/developers/lds-property">LDS Property</a> 
Architect:&nbsp;<a href="/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112375]

BUYER TESTIMONIAL: Why Andrea & Wayne amalgamated two apartments in Galerie, Glen Iris

2022 was an uncertain year in the property industry, as aggressive interest rate hikes by the Reserve Bank saw sentiment drop drastically, along with prospective buyers' budgets.

But award-winning developer Pace Development Group pushed on with a number of projects, and they're commitment to launching in what many felt was a tricky period has paid off in spades.

Ash Bramich, Sales and Marketing Director at Pace, said that there’s no point waiting around for the market to correct itself and bottom. 
 
“As long as developers are confident their product matches extensive research on the expected buyer demographic, then you’ve got to take the opportunity to get it in front of those buyers,” Bramich told Urban.

"Buyer demand has still very much been there.

"If you’re delivering a product which is what consumers are looking for, in quality suburbs, then you’ll achieve sales.

"We launched two projects [The Darley on Flemington Racecourse and Pace 3058 - Coburg] despite the headwinds in the property market, and now we're in a position to begin construction."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=24822 project_image_fid=254342]

There’s also the case of the issues surrounding demand v supply. Because of the lack of product on the market, Bramich says that, despite consumer sentiment taking a hit, there were still considerably more buyers out there than what was on the market.

The 5,100 apartments launched for sale across Melbourne in 2022 was the lowest number of launches recorded over the past decade, almost -80 per cent lower than the peak levels during 2014 and 2015, analysis by consultancy firm Charter Keck Cramer found.

Also at decade lows was the total number of apartments which began construction in 2022. Just 5,200 apartments started construction, -77 per cent lower than the 2015 peak of 22,500 apartments.

By generating sales last year,&nbsp; Pace have now started construction on both their Flemington and Coburg projects, which allows the team to offer greater buyer confidence during the sales process.

"We can now communicate to buyers two things; a clear sign the project is going ahead with works already underway, and a more accurate completion date of the build."

The Darley, which will comprise 313 apartments and is over 60 per cent sold, is forecast to complete construction by early-2025. Pace 3058 - Coburg has sold over 60 per cent of its 312 apartments. That's expected to be completed by mid-2024.

<img alt="The Darley Pace" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e0681786-d13f-45d2-92bb-133f0771e13a" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-03-14%20at%201.58.21%20pm.png?VersionId=TutHEmqnKBTJVHs34RoCzYqdT12Mv1EE" />The Darley on Flemington Racecourse. Image supplied

Bramich says he's never seen a market with such contrarian views.

"There's a lot of cyclical factors that are quite contrary and conflicting at the moment," Bramich says.

"On one side of the coin, you've got the headline issues around consumer confidence, increasing rates, cost of construction and difficult to predict completion timelines. On the other side however, unemployment is at record lows, immigration is going up and is forecasted to soar, particularly in Melbourne, and there's huge undersupply of apartments which always drives prices up," Bramich says.

Melbourne's population is forecasted to grow by 89,000 people in FY 2023, around 105,000 in FY 2024, and 101,000 in FY 2025, according to Plan Melbourne 2017-2050.

Charter Keck Kramer found that around 13,500 apartments need to be built each year in Melbourne to support the population growth. There were just 6,300 apartments completed in 2022 in Metro Melbourne, across 94 projects.

Bramich says inevitably the lack of supply will drive prices higher over the short term, and that will become long term if construction doesn't meet the forecasted population growth.

While interest rates have pinched the budgets of young professionals and investors, Bramich is seeing high demand from the downsizer demographic.

"There's a huge cohort of owner-occupiers with little debt or no mortgage, who are still ready to execute if there's product that ticks their boxes," Bramich says.

That's the target market for their upcoming Fitzroy project, Fabbrica, which Bramich expects will lure those empty nesters wanting to move back to a more active area.

Pace have geared Fabbrica toward this demographic, with larger than standard floor plans on offer, as well as double garage, large balconies, and high ceilings.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;one-bedroom apartments range from 52 sqm to 65 sqm, while two-bedroom&nbsp;apartments start from around 90 sqm and go up to 120 sqm. The three-beds range from&nbsp;130 sqm to 250 sqm.

SJB Architects will restore the current buildings on the corner of Johnston and Gore streets, which were selling for the first time in five decades when Pace snapped up the site. In keeping with the signature streetscape of Fitzroy, the facades will be restored to their original brick finish.

"We've already been seeing a lot of enquiry from those blue ribbon suburbs like Armadale, Kew, Malvern, the suburbs which are more geared to grand family homes.

"For these buyers, their kids have headed off to university or are now young professionals, and they can cash out their homes for anywhere between $4 million and $10 million, and are wanting to spend between $3 million and $5 million on an apartment in a 'cooler' suburb.

"They want to immerse themselves in a suburb which is more reflective of culture, with arts, cafes, and local restaurants."

Bramich says Fitzroy and Collingwood are probably two of the strongest suburbs to sell projects in.

"Buyers want heritage facades, light industrial features, tree lined streets, all of the characteristics Fitzroy and Collingwood are well known for. Most importantly it’s about being back in the buzz of a suburb they’ve not lived in since their 20s or 30s.

"There's a cohort of people who don't need to be sold on the area, they're simply just waiting for the appropriate product."

Expecting a big year in the markets, Pace also have 90 apartments soon to launch in Sunshine North, part of their riverside and lakeside masterplan where there's limited townhouses remaining. Bramich says the apartments will be more geared toward the first home buyer demographic.

Toward the end of the year Pace will launch Pace Brunswick, around 90 apartments fronting the popular Lygon Street, next to Methven Park. That will have one, two, and three-bedroom apartments.

Always looking forward, Pace are currently working with the Frankston City Council on their proposed plans down on the Mornington Peninsula&nbsp;located beachside of the Nepean Highway.

They're wanting to create a mixed-use residential and lifestyle precinct, bringing a high-level of retail and dining experiences to the suburb, set underneath around 200 apartments. Pace always put a large focus on amenity. They have plans for a 25 metre rooftop pool with sweeping views across Port Phillip&nbsp;Bay, a cinema, and a&nbsp;health and wellness area.

Ash Bramich, Sales and Marketing Director at Pace, said that there’s no point waiting around for the market to correct itself and bottom.


Pace take advantage of demand v supply in 2022 and kick off construction in Flemington and Coburg

National developer Goldfields' first foray into the Brisbane apartment market was no snap decision.

It's taken the prominent diversified developer years to put the plans together, seeking local market insights from the Colliers QLD team on the correct product mix for current market conditions.

Colliers International Australia’s Andrew Scriven, who will be heading the sales team for 33 Manning in Milton, believes the landscape has shifted significantly in residential real estate in the last two to three years.

Scriven says developers now needed to be “smarter and more considered, not only when finding opportunities but in seeing them through”.

“COVID brought with it changes that we didn’t expect but also provided opportunities we didn’t see, initially in the house and land space but subsequently in the apartment space as people chose to change the way they live,” he says.

“This could be changing states or downsizing from a larger house. This has created opportunities for developers and one of those has been tapping into previously undersupplied markets.”

As part of the consulting team behind 33 Manning, Scriven points to a combination of data insights and deep geographical and sector expertise being more valuable than ever before.

In-depth data analysis formed a critical part of the development of the new 18-storey, 131-apartment building. The insights gained helped inform the location, design and offering of the residential tower.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=209694]

“Population growth is a key indicator for changing consumer behaviour and it’s hard to ignore the opportunities offered by the explosive population growth in South-East Queensland and Brisbane over the past two years," Scriven says.

"Net interstate migration exceeded 30,000 people in 2021 and population growth in Queensland was recorded at 1.6% 1 ”.

Considered alongside the lack of available of stock within the western suburbs of Brisbane, Goldfields, development partner Icon, and Colliers saw an opportunity for maximising the post-COVID market.

Scriven believes few have fully understood the potential value of the western suburbs of Brisbane.

“The western suburbs have been undersupplied for some time, and local migration is still increasing at a faster rate than the supply of new homes on this side of the city,” he says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=209692]

“We identified that buyers want to live in the western suburbs and as such we needed to deliver a diverse range of product to cater to a wide range of buyers and occupants. 33 Manning does just that with its mix of one, two and three bedroom apartments and penthouses with river and city views.”

Scriven says downsizers are actively seeking out lifestyle precincts that offer connection and a village atmosphere.

“These buyers are looking to stay close to the things they know while enjoying new experiences and unlocking value,” he says. “For investors, the market fundamentals on offer in Milton are its relative affordability compared to other states as well as the population and employment growth in the area.

“With the Olympics around the corner and low supply levels a result of construction and supply chain issues, we don’t see any of these fundamentals changing significantly for some time.”

For Scriven, the city’s low vacancy rate, which is currently under 0.7% is another indication why suburbs like Milton will experience increasing demand for housing.

<h2>Apartment resurgence</h2>

The combination of useful data and deep expertise is critical for developers looking to find value and stay ahead of the market. Similarly, collaboration with leading consultants and experts is invaluable.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108736 project_image_fid=209693]

“We started to recognise that although sea-changers and tree-changers initially started buying land to build bigger houses at the height of the pandemic, affordability and confidence has led to a recent resurgence in apartment living.

“Additionally, many owner occupiers have been unlocking equity as house prices rise, downsizing their home while upsizing their lifestyle,” he said.

In Brisbane, there is currently a 46 per cent difference between the average house price and apartment price; the largest gap in the country, and the most significant in 10 years. Apartments in the city are currently providing the most value for owner occupiers and opportunity for investors.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108736]

Scriven says downsizers are actively seeking out lifestyle precincts that offer connection and a village atmosphere

How on the ground insights helped create 33 Manning in Brisbane's Milton

Prominent Eastern Suburbs developer Eduard Litver is set to bring something to Double Bay it's never seen before.

Litver, who runs Capit.el Group and is best known for the redevelopment of the Bondi Pacific, has had Japanese architect Koichi Takada design a new mixed-use development in the heart of the suburb,&nbsp;just across the road from The Cosmopolitan Centre where Litver owns the retail component.

Takada's plans include two retail spaces at street level, as well as two food and beverage tenancies.

<img alt="Litver Double Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bca31464-adfe-4449-a085-75193cbc0098" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-01-20%20at%202.12.13%20pm.png?VersionId=jmP3kefQU116yu.fzaV6WHdG9skPoafg" />

Above will be parking, and then a level of commercial space.

The top two levels will be dedicated to just two two-level apartments. The downstairs will home the living, kitchen and dining area, with two terraces overlooking both Knox Street and Knox Lane.

Upstairs will be three ensuited bedrooms, with the master opening to a huge terrace, another overlooking Knox Street.

Litver has been patient with the project, his first site acquisition dating back to 2018 when he secured 31-37 Knox Street at auction for $12.5 million. A year later he spent $9.83 million on 27-29 Knox Street,

<img alt="Litver Double Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1a813a69-79ed-48b4-a6ed-b69f855397b9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202023-01-20%20at%202.12.48%20pm.png?VersionId=OoOAv8R91.OKHe2e9nRYUNUJSi6kMYYw" />

Litver has gone on record previously saying he wants to transform the Cosmopolitan Centre into a world-class venue, having paid $40 million for the retail in 2018.

The Urban Design Report submitted by AE Design Partnership says the design of the proposal has been developed through detailed site and analysis to ensure a contextually harmonious development

"The proposal will enhance the streetscape by redeveloping the existing outdated buildings into a contemporary built form with vertical and horizontal articulation accentuated by sculpted timber look aluminium framing, light timber look aluminium timber batten screens, glazing and upper-level planting," the report read.

Litver has been involved in a number of luxury developments across the Eastern Suburbs over the years. He was a part of the redevelopment of The Bondi Pacific, as well as The Bondi further down on Campbell Parade, and the QT Pacific Bondi Beach on Beach Road.

&nbsp;

<h2>27-37 Knox Street at a glance</h2>

• 178.1m2 of retail floor space and 126.9m2 food and beverage space on the ground floor

• 1,001.6m2 of commercial floor space across levels 1-3

• two large double-storey apartments on levels 4 and 5

• parking located in one basement level and on level 1 comprising:

• 21 car spaces

• 2 motorcycle spaces

• 18 bicycle spaces

Takada's plans include two retail spaces at street level, as well as two food and beverage tenancies.

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