One of North Sydney's best-known commercial buildings could become hundreds of new homes, with insurance giant Zurich Australia lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) to transform 5 Blue Street into a mixed-use residential development above North Sydney Station.

Rather than demolishing the existing building and starting again, Zurich is proposing an adaptive reuse project that would convert the landmark office building into a 15-level residential development delivering 62 apartments, 86 affordable co-living dwellings, activated retail and significant upgrades to the Blue Street Plaza.

The proposal reflects a growing trend of commercial property owners repositioning ageing office assets into residential housing as Sydney grapples with housing supply shortages and changing workplace demand.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0bba7d12-06dc-4375-aad7-238c94b21ac5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.42.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=NJl5oLAEBDGuPmY3RnyliKODjMc8lvRh" />

Located directly above North Sydney Metro and train station, the 3,051 sqm site occupies one of the most strategically positioned parcels of land on Sydney's Lower North Shore.

Designed by fjcstudio, the proposal seeks to retain and adapt much of the existing structure while creating a contemporary residential address that better connects with the public domain surrounding North Sydney Station.

The application proposes two basement levels, ground floor retail, affordable co-living accommodation across the podium levels, and apartments above, while preserving and enhancing the publicly accessible Blue Street Plaza.

Rather than pursuing maximum apartment numbers, Zurich has opted for a housing mix heavily weighted towards larger owner-occupier residences.

The proposal includes 62 build-to-sell apartments comprising 12 one-bedroom, 19 two-bedroom, 29 three-bedroom apartments and two premium penthouses. It also incorporates 86 affordable co-living dwellings, which would be managed in perpetuity by a Community Housing Provider.

That balance between traditional apartments and affordable housing reflects the NSW Government's push to increase housing diversity around major transport infrastructure.

The proposal has been lodged concurrently with a rezoning application, with Zurich arguing the site is ideally positioned to support additional housing given its immediate proximity to public transport, employment and services.

"The proposal aims to respond to the housing challenges facing Sydney through the delivery of diverse housing types in a highly accessible location," the design report by fjcstudio states. It also seeks to improve pedestrian amenity through upgrades to Blue Street Plaza while creating a high-performing residential building that responds to the surrounding context.

<img alt="Zurich" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36082e15-c636-4481-bb68-5a5f6443fe39" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%2010.41.36%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=5P6VD.fvmqjQfIG3TWWMRXxQWiQBjeFB" />

Rather than replacing the commercial building, fjcstudio has developed a design that works with the existing structural framework above the rail corridor, an approach that significantly reduces demolition while allowing the site to be repositioned as a mixed-use residential precinct.

The existing structural constraints have informed much of the building's design, including its relationship with Blue Street and surrounding public spaces.

The building has been designed as a slender tower rising above a clearly defined podium, with vertically expressed façades intended to reduce the perceived bulk while reinforcing North Sydney's emerging skyline.

According to fjcstudio, the architectural language responds directly to the surrounding commercial towers while maintaining a finer grain expression more closely aligned with the neighbouring Lavender Bay streetscape.

The tower incorporates articulated façade elements, landscaped podium edges and recessed upper levels to soften its appearance and improve pedestrian amenity below.

A significant component of the proposal is the revitalisation of Blue Street Plaza.

The existing public space has long served as one of the primary pedestrian connections between North Sydney Station, Greenwood Plaza and Blue Street, yet its role is expected to become even more important following the opening of Sydney Metro.

Zurich's proposal seeks to strengthen that role by improving landscaping, introducing new retail frontages, enhancing pedestrian permeability and creating more active edges throughout the day and evening.

Ground floor retail would wrap the plaza, while separate residential and co-living entries have been designed to improve wayfinding without reducing street activation.

Landscape design has been integrated throughout the podium and public realm, softening what is currently one of the most heavily urbanised parts of North Sydney.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

fjcstudio has carefully oriented apartments towards Sydney Harbour and the CBD while using privacy blades and articulated façades to minimise overlooking between neighbouring buildings.

Large framed openings along the western elevation maximise harbour outlooks, while the eastern apartments have been angled towards the south-east to improve privacy from neighbouring development.

The project forms part of the continuing transformation of North Sydney from a predominantly commercial CBD into a genuine mixed-use city centre.

Since the completion of Victoria Cross Metro Station, developers have increasingly shifted their attention towards residential projects capable of leveraging the area's unparalleled transport connectivity.

&nbsp;

FiveX recently lodged plans for a 61-storey, 490-apartment tower that would become one of the tallest residential buildings in North Sydney if approved.

Aqualand continues to expand its Lower North Shore presence following the completion of AURA on Walker Street and its recent St Leonards and Roseville proposals.

Developers are also progressing projects throughout Walker Street, Miller Street and the Victoria Cross precinct as demand for well-located owner-occupier apartments continues to strengthen.

Joel Robinson

First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station

Busy developer Aqualand Prestige has formally taken the next step in its expansion across Sydney's Lower North Shore, lodging a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for its long-held Archer Street site in Chatswood.

The application covers <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/51-55-archer-street-chatswood-nsw-2067">51-55 Archer Street</a>, a 1,767 sqm amalgamated site on the eastern edge of the Chatswood CBD, where the developer is seeking approval for a 45-level mixed-use tower delivering 114 apartments, including a significant affordable housing component, alongside retail, commercial space and six basement levels of parking.

The SSDA marks the latest milestone for a project Aqualand has been quietly progressing over the past two years. The developer first secured the site for its Aqualand Prestige platform before undertaking an alternative design excellence process with PTW Architects, ultimately avoiding a formal design competition through the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The proposal has evolved considerably from Aqualand's original concept. The revised scheme has been designed around larger owner-occupier product, with an unusually high proportion of three and four-bedroom apartments, targeting the more affluent buyer profile, and downsizer, emerging across the North Shore.

<img alt="Archer St" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0171204c-5811-41b5-9b09-2335d1b7c3d0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-22%20at%208.52.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=6YTuxfq.puZo7k2wbfgemcO5K3QfXYGQ" />

The 114-apartment mix comprises six studios, 27 one-bedroom apartments, 18 two-bedroom apartments, 50 three-bedroom residences and 13 four-bedroom homes. A quarter of the building will be dedicated to affordable housing, well above the mandated 15 per cent&nbsp;

PTW has structured the building vertically, with affordable housing across levels one to six, premium apartments through levels seven to 31, duplex skyhomes on klevels 32 to 43, a penthouse on level 44, and a rooftop plant level above. Six basement levels will provide resident parking and servicing.

The tower is proposed to reach approximately 154 metres, placing it among a growing collection of residential high-rises transforming Chatswood's skyline.

Rather than competing purely on height, PTW says the design has been driven by creating a slimmer tower capable of delivering significantly larger apartments.

"The primary objective of this project was to create a distinctive building that stands out from the recently approved or built structures in the Chatswood area," the design report states, noting the structural efficiency allows greater investment into apartment quality and resident amenity.

Residents would have access to more than 450 sqm of communal open space including landscaped gardens, swimming pool, rooftop entertaining areas, fitness spaces, community gardens, children's play areas and barbecue facilities.

A major focus of the design has been the public domain.

The ground plane has been opened up through landscaped terraces inspired by Willoughby's sandstone ridges, with native planting, public seating, artwork, retail activation and a series of gathering spaces intended to soften what has traditionally been a hard commercial streetscape.

The landscape strategy references Blue Gum forests once common throughout the area, while incorporating Indigenous storytelling, public art and lighting installations to strengthen the connection to Country.

Chatswood has been one of Sydney's busiest apartment markets over the past 12 months, with a steady pipeline of both new project launches and fresh development applications.

Hyecorp recently launched Celine, a 122-apartment development just along Archer Street, while Changfa and Huirong Group are progressing The Anderson, an 84-apartment project on Anderson Street.

Develotek recently secured approval for a 101-apartment tower on Pacific Highway, while Tian An LFD received the green light for Hammond Greens, its apartment development on the edge of the Chatswood Bowling Club.

Commercial property developer FiveX is also making its move into the residential market. Last month it lodged plans for a 61-storey tower with 490 apartments, which, if approved, would become one of the tallest residential buildings in Chatswood.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-fivex-targets-chatswood-skyline-with-61-storey-tower-after-north-sydney-plans">First look: FiveX targets Chatswood skyline with 61-storey tower after North Sydney plans</a>

Aqualand is also expanding its development pipeline following the launch of its luxury residential brand, Aqualand Prestige. The developer has delivered a string of high-end apartment projects across Sydney's affluent suburbs over the past decade, most recently AURA by Aqualand on Walker Street in North Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=30959 project_image_fid=292863]

It has since quietly assembled its next wave of projects.

Earlier this year Aqualand launched Boronia in Roseville, a boutique 111-apartment development on Larkin Street. The project is one of the first significant apartment developments to launch in the suburb ahead of what is expected to become one of Sydney's most active new housing precincts under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing reforms, which allow greater density around train stations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152095 project_image_fid=373685]

The developer has also lodged plans for a two-tower, 413-apartment development on Herbert Street in nearby St Leonards, further strengthening its presence across the Lower North Shore.

Beyond that, Aqualand remains behind the final stage of Barangaroo, where plans will deliver a five-hectare mixed-use precinct comprising new homes, retail, hospitality and community facilities, alongside a new Metro entrance and more than two hectares of public open space, completing the Barangaroo precinct.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/central-barangaroo-development-takes-big-step-with-concept-proposal-approval">Central Barangaroo development takes big step with concept proposal approval</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-aqualand-joins-st-leonards-apartment-party">First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party</a> 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

First look: Aqualand pushes ahead with Chatswood apartment tower as SSDA lodged for Archer Street

Mass timber is becoming an increasingly popular construction material in apartment developments, but Adelaide developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/otello">Otello</a> is taking the approach a step further.

At its new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flowe-bowden-18-gibson-street-bowden-sa-5007">Flowe Bowden</a> development, the exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure isn't just about reducing the building's environmental footprint. It also forms the foundation of a broader wellness strategy, influencing everything from indoor air quality and natural materials to the way residents move through and experience the building.

The 115-apartment mixed-use development, designed by Melbourne-based architecture practice Fieldwork, will occupy a prominent island site opposite Bowden Village Reserve, combining one, two and three-bedroom apartments with retail and a dedicated wellness destination.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375528]

Wellness isn't confined to a gym or shared resident facility at Flowe. Instead, Fieldwork embedded the concept into the building itself.

The development has been split into two residential wings connected by a naturally ventilated central breezeway, replacing traditional enclosed corridors with open-air walkways that improve natural light, encourage cross ventilation and create more opportunities for neighbourly interaction.

"Rather than treating wellness as something that only happens on the ground floor, our response integrates it throughout the building, which led us to ask what it really means to design a healthy building," Fieldwork Director Quino Holland said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375531]

The building's architecture also reflects Bowden's industrial heritage. The lower podium references the area's historic brick and sandstone buildings, while the upper levels transition to exposed CLT, allowing the timber structure to become a defining feature throughout the apartments and shared spaces.

The use of mass timber sits alongside a range of sustainability initiatives, including a fully electric, gas-free design, rooftop solar and a targeted 5 Star Green Star rating.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375524]

Inside the residences, the focus remains on natural, durable materials. Blackbutt engineered timber flooring, exposed CLT ceilings, porcelain surfaces and warm timber joinery create a calming interior palette, while low-VOC finishes and responsibly sourced materials have been selected to improve indoor air quality.

Kitchens have been designed as the centrepiece of each apartment, featuring porcelain island benchtops, timber-look cabinetry and brushed steel tapware, with layouts that maximise natural light and ventilation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152022 project_image_fid=375530]

The more traditional interpretation of wellness comes in the form of Level Eleven, a two-storey wellness club spanning the ground floor, mezzanine and first floor.

The facility will include a gym, yoga and reformer Pilates studios, Finnish and infrared saunas, magnesium hot and cold plunge pools, and dedicated recovery spaces. Unlike many residential wellness facilities, Level Eleven will also operate commercially, allowing the broader Bowden community to access the venue while giving residents exclusive membership benefits.

The ground floor has also been designed around everyday living. A café overlooking Bowden Village Reserve will activate the street frontage, while a bike workshop with tool storage, co-working space and dog wash has been incorporated to support daily routines and encourage interaction between residents.

"Flowe brings together my two biggest passions, creating places and creating healthier lives," Otello founder Daniel Harris said.

"We wanted to create something Adelaide hasn't seen before, a genuinely healthy building, where the way you live is lifted without even trying."

Flowe is positioned directly opposite Bowden Village Reserve and within walking distance of Bowden Railway Station and the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, placing future residents just minutes from the Adelaide CBD while remaining connected to one of the city's most established urban renewal precincts.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152022]

Otello launches wellness-focused Flowe Bowden with Adelaide-first mass timber apartment design

Not all apartment amenities are immediately visible.

Swimming pools, gyms, rooftop terraces and residents' lounges have long featured on buyers' wishlists, but as the way Australians live has changed, so too have the features that make apartment living more convenient.

Increasingly, buyers are placing value on the practical aspects of day-to-day life. Fast internet, EV charging, secure bike storage, flexible workspaces and parcel management are becoming just as relevant as lifestyle amenities, reflecting changing habits and expectations.

Online shopping has been one of the biggest drivers of that shift.

Australians spent a record $82.6 billion shopping online in 2025, with almost one in every four retail dollars now spent digitally, making parcel deliveries a routine part of everyday life rather than an occasional convenience.

For apartment residents, however, receiving those deliveries isn't always straightforward.

Without someone home to accept a parcel, deliveries can be redirected to a nearby Post Office, left in building foyers or common areas, or require building management to temporarily store packages. As apartment living continues to grow across Australia's cities, parcel management has become an increasingly important consideration for both residents and developers.

Australia Post's Parcel Locker network is one response to that shift.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KPZ9j5FRdsQ?si=Qztc1dNP3ZvEIUhb" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

Rather than relying on home delivery, eligible parcels can be directed to a nominated Parcel Locker, where they're securely stored until collected. Once a parcel arrives, residents receive a notification through the AusPost app or SMS and can retrieve it using a one-time code or QR code at a time that suits them.

The network has expanded to more than 1,500 locations nationwide, with Parcel Lockers positioned at Post Offices, shopping centres, supermarkets, transport hubs and, increasingly, within or alongside residential developments.

That growing presence reflects a broader change in how apartment buildings are being planned.

Developers are increasingly considering the operational side of apartment living alongside traditional lifestyle amenities. Just as secure mailrooms, bicycle storage and EV charging have become more common inclusions, parcel management is emerging as another feature that supports everyday convenience.

It also helps preserve the arrival experience within a building. Carefully designed lobbies and communal spaces can quickly become cluttered when deliveries accumulate, while secure parcel solutions reduce the likelihood of missed deliveries or parcels being left unattended.

For buyers comparing apartments, these everyday details are becoming part of the decision-making process.

Location, floorplans and finishes remain fundamental, but the features that simplify daily life are carrying greater weight than they once did. As online shopping continues to shape consumer behaviour, secure parcel delivery is increasingly becoming another amenity worth looking for.

Parcel delivery is joining the apartment amenity checklist

Inca Property Group has lodged a State Significant Development Application (SSDA) for Dawn, a 53-apartment oceanfront development overlooking Mona Vale Beach.

The proposal, at 35-39 Darley Street East, would replace an existing 18-apartment strata building with a new owner-occupier-focused development comprising 53 two and three-bedroom apartments, including nine affordable built-to-rent residences delivered under the State's infill affordable housing scheme.

Positioned on a 2,679 sqm elevated site around 280 metres from Mona Vale Beach, the development has been designed to maximise panoramic ocean views while responding to the site's sloping topography.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/inca-property-group">Inca Property Group</a> Managing Director Josh Thompson said the State Significant pathway provided greater certainty for projects of this scale.

"This State Significant pathway gives the team real certainty to progress <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/dawn-35-39-darley-street-east-mona-vale-nsw-2103">Dawn</a> through to completion," Thompson said.

"It allows us to acquire a one-off site, design it carefully and deliver the right offering for the suburb, assessed by the NSW Government's planning department."

The project is one of the first developments in the area to be assessed under the NSW Government's Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy, with the site sitting on the edge of the policy's designated inner area.

The proposal includes three basement levels providing 124 car spaces, alongside a range of resident amenities including a swimming pool, gym, sauna, wellness facilities and private plunge pools for selected ground-floor and penthouse apartments.

<img alt="Dawn" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fc1a1daf-0ce4-4f12-9076-b1fa553c7a91" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-21%20at%208.42.11%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4GZ9h.gpNkTljbxyAET8Jfhv51XUamDm" />

Thompson said Dawn had been designed specifically for owner-occupiers and downsizers, a buyer profile that has driven demand across Inca's recent Upper North Shore developments.

"The majority of buyers in our recent North Shore projects have been downsizers, and we are learning exactly what this market is looking for. Beyond the location itself, we have included resort-style amenities to deliver a genuine lifestyle offering," Thompson said.

Located within walking distance of Mona Vale Beach, the town centre, Mona Vale Golf Club and the Royal Motor Yacht Club, Dawn represents Inca's first Northern Beaches project following the sell-out of Tara on Park in Waitara and Ellis Residences, currently under construction in St Ives.

Construction will be undertaken by Inca's in-house construction arm, GOP Constructions.

Dawn is the latest major apartment proposal for Mona Vale, with the suburb emerging as one of the key beneficiaries of the NSW Government's new Low and Mid-Rise Housing policy.

New developer One Living, led by industry veteran Joseph Scuderi, recently secured a site on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, where it is planning around 140 apartments.

IPM is also planning its third project in Mona Vale, significantly increasing the scale of its previous developments with an 82-apartment proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/159-167-darley-street-west-mona-vale-nsw-2103">159-167 Darley Street West</a>, opposite Bayview Golf Course and less than 800 metres from Mona Vale town centre.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/one-living-enters-sydneys-new-apartment-market-with-northern-beaches-site-acquisition">One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition</a>

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-ipm-plans-third-mona-vale-project">First look: IPM plans third Mona Vale project</a>

First look: Inca eyes Mona Vale with State Significant DA for Dawn apartments

South West Sydney

The development is located at the northern end of Bankstown’s commercial precinct and positioned perfectly to enjoy all the burgeoning region has to offer.&nbsp;

Envisioned to create a new benchmark for integrated living, Spring Square will connect residents to the distinct charm of Bankstown, which is overflowing with high end amenity, abundant recreational spaces and a lively food and entertainment scene.

On the doorstep of Spring Square lies quality education, retail and supermarkets, restaurants and cafes, as well as entertainment options like Hoyts Cinema and the Bryan Brown Theatre.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7054 project_image_fid=47626]

The newly built Bankstown RSL Club is also directly next door and Bankstown train station is an easy few minutes’ walk.&nbsp;

As the most significant commercial hub of South West Sydney, Bankstown is also well connected with public transport and roads like the M5 and Hume Highway, providing links to the north, south, east and west with ease.&nbsp;

As the region is at the forefront of a revival, with impetus from the NSW Government’s plan to implement the Sydenham to Bankstown Urban Renewal Strategy well underway, a number of neighbourhoods, public spaces, town centres and community services will also be redeveloped and enhanced.&nbsp;

A new Sydney Metro train line is also in progress, which will connect Bankstown to key employment centres – providing further travel options and improved accessibility. Slated to open to the public by 2024, the new Metro line will be located just 300-metres from Spring Square.

This boost to the local economy has also seen the uncovering of plans for a brand new Bankstown-Lidcombe hospital, with the $1.3 billion health precinct a major boost for the area. Improved civic spaces are also on the cards, as well as a Western Sydney University campus right in Bankstown’s CBD, which will be just 400-metres from the development site.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7054 project_image_fid=47627]

Upon completion, Spring Square is set to comprise&nbsp;five towers, with a mix of one, two and three-bedroom offered across the site.

A range of single and double-storey layouts will be constructed, as well as crossover arrangements, with the residences to benefit from&nbsp;Bankstown’s central location within Sydney, along with its elevation, making it one of the highest vantage points.&nbsp;

Residents will be able to take in expansive district, Sydney CBD and Olympic Park views, with each of the towers designed to maximise these outlooks.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7054]

As the most significant commercial hub of South West Sydney, Bankstown is also well connected with public transport and roads like the M5 and Hume Highway, providing links to the north, south, east and west with ease. 

alisonwarters@gmail.com

How Spring Square by Poly taps in to its burgeoning location

With the up and coming suburb in Sydney's South West on the cusp of expansion and the new type of residential product planned by Poly Australia, the area is tipped to become a hotspot for owner-occupiers, and particularly first home buyers.&nbsp;

Within each home, the level of finishes and fittings belies the affordable first home buyer price point.&nbsp;

All have been thoughtfully curated and colour matched to ensure an elegant harmony throughout.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7054 project_image_fid=47626]

The masterplanned community has been designed to create a genuine sense of neighbourhood, complete with communal gardens and a broad mix of amenities. This includes integrated retail, commercial and childcare spaces making up just a small part of nearly 6,600 sqm of total amenity space.

Comprising a generous mix of apartments, in various configurations, from studios, up to three-bedrooms, Spring Square by Poly has a price point that few other developments can hope to match - which is only bolstered by the fact all the studio apartments have all already been sold.&nbsp;

Once the nearby Metro is up and running in 2024, these homes will arguably be one of the few opportunities in Sydney where you can purchase a brand new two-bedroom residence for $695,000, within an estimated 30-minute commute to the CBD.

In a host of ways, convenience is built into the plan of Spring Square, with public transport to the CBD and Parramatta accessed right in the heart of the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7054 project_image_fid=47636]

But even simpler connectivity occurs when residents can live upstairs, work close by and enjoy the retail and entertainment options immediately downstairs. Al fresco retail, landscaped communal gardens, a children’s playground, shaded seating areas, and barbecue facilities form just a fraction of the year-round amenities available at the development.

Poly Australia are no stranger to projects of this stature, having significant experience in multi-stage delivery of large-scale integrated retail, commercial and residential offerings.

With substantial urban renewal funding earmarked by the NSW state government, Spring Square by Poly will be poised to take advantage of all the recently renewed investment plans.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7054]

Why owner-occupiers are tipped for Spring Square by Poly

Defined by its diversity, Bankstown is a hidden gem among Sydney.&nbsp;

International developer, Poly Australia are taking to the suburb to deliver their latest residential project, Spring Square, which is set to give new life to the south-west suburb.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7054 project_image_fid=47627]

The masterplan has been inspired by vertical communities around the globe, tailored to uplift Bankstown, enlivening its people and their lifestyle.

“With Bankstown in the midst of such growth, this new precinct will deliver a completely new lifestyle experience for those who live here and those who visit,” said Poly.

Spring Square at 32 Kitchener Parade, has been designed to complement and enhance its architectural neighbours, with its contrast of tonal brick, extensive glazing and vertical louvres working harmoniously to redefine the district’s skyline.&nbsp;

Built across five towers, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom residences will be delivered, with a range of single and double-storey layouts, as well as crossover arrangements.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7054 project_image_fid=47630]

Bankstown’s central location within Sydney, along with its elevation, makes it one of the highest vantage points.&nbsp;

From here, you can take in expansive district, Sydney CBD and Olympic Park views, with each of the towers designed to maximise these outlooks.&nbsp;

“We’ve designed Spring Square to really take in these views and it's been built so you can enjoy all the outlooks."&nbsp;

“This is something completely unique for the south west.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7054 project_image_fid=47628]

With sustainability no longer an optional extra for residential design, Poly Australia is implanting a raft of measures at the Bankstown precinct to follow suit, including greywater recycling, central hot water system, solar panels, and air-conditioning with high energy efficiency ratio. The project is also BASIX rated for water efficiency.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=7054]

The masterplan has been inspired by vertical communities around the globe, tailored to uplift Bankstown, enlivening its people and their lifestyle.

Spring Square by Poly launches to market

South-West Sydney rezonings in Glenfield, Leppington and Lowes Creek Maryland are set to create more than 16,000 homes. 
&nbsp; 
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the NSW Government was responding to the increased demand for greenfield housing as a result of the pandemic.

&quot;We are accelerating these rezonings,&rdquo; Mr Stokes said. 
&nbsp; 
The rezoning of Leppington Precinct stages two and five will allow for up to 2,400 new homes.

The Lowes Creek Maryland rezoning (above and below) will support 7,000 homes for 20,000 people.

<img alt="" height="2927" src="https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/marylands_lowes_creek_3_05a.jpg" width="4500" /> 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;We&rsquo;re also finalising the Glenfield Precinct Place Strategy, expected to create up to 7,000 new homes and 2,900 new jobs. 
&nbsp; 
&ldquo;More homes need more parks, that&rsquo;s why as part of these land releases we&rsquo;ve secured 75 hectares of parkland at Glenfield, 62 hectares at Lowes Creek Maryland and 16 hectares at Leppington.&rdquo;

Tom Forrest, CEO at the Urban Taskforce welcomed the announcement on the rezoning of land for 16,000 new homes in South-West Sydney.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7317 project_image_fid=79245] 
&nbsp; 
&quot;This announcement shows, that with political will and strong leadership, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment can take the lead to deliver strong growth in housing approvals to drive down the price of new homes. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;This shows what DPIE can do when given clear political leadership.&nbsp;

&quot;State led rezoning will be the most efficient way to get big projects going. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;The Minister for Planning, in June, committed to fast-tracking the decisions on these precincts.&nbsp;

&quot;The commitment acknowledged that there is a housing supply crisis in NSW, and this is driving up the prices of homes, making them unaffordable.&quot; 
&nbsp; 
Forrest added the most recent new homes completion data was again disappointing for Greater Sydney, with new home completions falling well short of the Greater Sydney Commission and NSW Housing Strategy 2021 targets.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=32227 project_image_fid=93951]

&quot;The NSW Housing Strategy shows we need at least 40,000 approvals for Greater Sydney every year for the next 20 years.

&quot;In the year to March &ndash; there were on 29,500 new home completions despite the construction industry going flat out during 2020 and the first COVID wave. 
&nbsp; 
&quot;Reversing the drop-off in new home and apartment approvals is critical to solving the housing affordability crisis.&nbsp;

&quot;We will need many more announcements like this if the Minister is committed to making a serious dent into the real, accumulated shortage of approximately 100,000 new homes.&nbsp;

&quot;The same attention and enthusiasm given to the South-West needs to be extended across Greater Sydney for all housing types,&quot; Forrest said.

The rezoning of Leppington Precinct stages two and five will allow for up to 2,400 new homes while in Lowes Creek Maryland, rezoning will support approximately 7,000 homes for 20,000 people

jchancellor

South-West Sydney rezonings will see 16,400 new homes

<html><body>
Risland Australia has been successful in its case before the NSW Supreme Court against Bradcorp, after Risland elected not to exercise its option in 2018 to acquire land at North Wilton in South-West Sydney.
Bradcorp took Risland to court.
Bradcorp challenged Risland’s decision that Bradcorp had failed to satisfy a range of conditions precedent to enable the land to be developed.  
The Supreme Court dismissed Bradcorp’s claim, which was taken against Risland, the Chinese backed developer then known as Country Garden.
Bradcorp had owned the land since 1999.
 It is located about 80 kilometres south west of the Sydney CBD.
The court found Bradcorp had failed to satisfy all of the conditions necessary to exercise the option, and that Bradcorp otherwise repudiated the option deed by its own conduct.  
The court case came down to a legal debate on the required time and date, and whether a post 5pm COB advisory was within the required time.
The court even heard legal precedent on birth dates, age, and fractions of the day.
Counsel for Bradcorp claimed one notification was received after 5.00 pm on the required day, so they viewed it as received on the following business day. 
But the Supreme Court judge ruled the cancellation was effective on the required day, 30 November 2018.
Bradcorp will be required to pay damages to Risland which, together with costs and interest charges, is likely to exceed $30 million.
“We are disappointed that Bradcorp was unable to present the land in a way which would have enabled it to be developed in accordance with the required approvals and our vision," a Risland spokesperson said.
“We remain very interested in investing and developing areas around Australia, including the Wilton region”, he concluded.
The proceedings concerned an 870 hectare parcel, currently rural, but is to be developed as part of the expansion of Wilton into a large satellite town.
It was in February 2017 that Bradcorp entered into put and call option agreements over the land with Country Garden.
The aggregate purchase price under the option agreements was $297 million.
Bradcorp purported to exercise the put option early in December 2018, but CG refused to execute the contract of sale, on the ground that conditions precedent to the exercise of the put option had not been satisfied.
Bradcorp claimed damages.
Call option fees of $29.7 million had been paid by CG, and in accordance with the option agreements, $9 million had been released to Bradcorp.
The remaining $20.7 million was held by HWL Ebsworth, the solicitors for Bradcorp on the transaction.
There was a dispute over three conditions including the requirement that the land be rezoned so that at least 5,350 residential lots could be produced by subdivision.
The land was rezoned in November 2018 however there was an issue between the parties on whether the rezoning satisfied the minimum lot requirement.
The second condition concerned an existing mining lease which extended under the land. The condition required that certain rights under the lease be surrendered.
It happened, but the steps to make it happen only took place at the last minute with the dispute on whether it happened in the required time.
Bradcorp had negotiated an agreement with Endeavour to surrender its rights in exchange for payment of $40 million, the court heard.
The third condition concerned access to the property from the Hume Motorway with the parties in dispute also about whether this condition was satisfied.
Bradcorp has issued a press release advising it intends to appeal the judgement.
 
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Risland in win over Bradcorp over abandoned $297 million North Wilton sale

<html><body>
AMP Capital Diversified Property Fund has sold Crossroads Homemaker Centre to Ashe Morgan for $140 million.
Located on the corner of Beech Road and Camden Valley Way, Casula, the 48,400 square metre-plus centre is home to 28 large format retailers, including anchor tenants Bunnings, The Good Guys, Freedom, Nick Scali and Fantastic Furniture. 
The centre was developed by AMP Capital after its acquisition of the 143,400 square metre site in 2002. 
CBRE's Nick Willis said the sale highlights continued demand for Sydney metropolitan retail assets. 
“Despite forecast headwinds in the retail sector, we are continuing to see an uplift in enquiry and bidder interest as investors identify relative value in the sector compared to other commercial real estate sectors,” said Willis.
“This was again evidenced with Crossroads Homemaker Centre, where we attracted strong and diverse investor interest from private and institutional groups, with 46% of the formal offers received being maiden capital into the large format retail sector. 
 “The Homemaker Centre’s strategic gateway position in Sydney’s south west growth corridor, coupled with its143,400 square metres underlying land area over four separate lots, provides flexibility to adapt the asset to meet the needs of the rapidly changing surrounds.” 
Jonathan Fox of Stonebridge added: “The sale result and volume of enquiry during the sale campaign was extremely strong. We received 13 expressions of interest and the highly competitive second round process highlighted the depth of demand for quality Sydney metropolitan retail assets.”
</body></html>

j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Crossroads Homemaker Centre at Casula sold for $140 million

<html><body>
A 41,000 sqm land parcel in a South West Sydney's Gregory Hills, has been listed for sale. 
CBRE’s Peter Vines and Nick Willis have been appointed to sell the site located in the Gregory Hills Corporate Park.
The park is a 30 ha master planned development situated 53km from the Sydney CBD.  
The site - The Precinct @ Gregory Hills– is available for immediate development, equipped with an existing DA for a mixed-use project comprising large format retail premises, food and drink premises and recreation facilities.  
The Gregory Hills Corporate Park consists of three main precincts; Soma Lifestyle – an approved large format retail centre incorporating leisure and entertainment; Soma Wellness – a completed mixed use medical precinct; and Camden Medical Campus – an approved large-scale private hospital plus a second smaller private paediatric hospital and day surgery.  
Mr Vines said the opportunity to acquire a substantial footprint in one of Sydney’s most transformative regions would ignite strong buyer interest. 
“Strong population growth and the ongoing anticipation of the Badgerys Creek Airport continue to position South West Sydney as an extremely sought-after region. It is extremely rare for a landholding of this nature – scale, location and development approval – to come the market, which will fuel strong buyer interest from owner occupiers, industrial and retail developers,”
“Adding to the appeal of this site is the current lack of industrial and large format retail opportunities for owner occupiers in South West Sydney."
"While the site has an existing DA in place for a large format retail centre, the flexible B5 zoning, coupled with the strength of the industrial market, will also attract interest from developers and investors that will value in other uses," he concluded.
Mr Willis added, “significant infill retail development sites of this nature are seldom offered to the market, particularly in metropolitan Sydney."
"The catchment is underserviced and demanding for a superior level of retail development to be delivered. This precinct is positioned and designed to be the next premier Sydney lifestyle and large format retail destination.”
</body></html>

40,000 sqm site with DA in South West Sydney's Gregory Hills listed

<html><body><div class="page" title="Page 1">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
Frasers Property Australia were recently fielding enquiries from tenants looking to set up shop in Ed.Square, their so-called game-changing mixed-use community set to be the new urban heart of south west Sydney.
More than 200 homes had been sold at Ed.Square by August. 
It signalled in August the next apartment building had been fast-tracked for release.
The more recent homes release, Chelsea Pocket, offering a collection of 1, 2, 3 &amp; 4 bedroom designer townhomes, were part of the VIP sales launch last month. 
Coles and Liquorland were confirmed as tenants in the future town centre
Frasers Property secured leases over 25% of the available 25,000sqm of retail space in stage one of Ed.Square Town Centre just weeks after the leasing campaign kicked off.
Ed.Square was poised to become the new social centrepiece for south west Sydney, according to Tim Moore at Frasers Property Australia.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/24/EP1%20R02_Retail_Eat%20St.jpg" alt="">
Stage one of Ed.Square Town Centre is expected to open in early 2020. On completion of stage two, of up to an additional 15,000sqm, the development will comprise 40,000sqm of retail space with over 120 shops integrated with a landmark 68-metre high residential tower atop the town centre.
Some 1,800 homes were envisaged in the Frasers Property community.
<div class="page" title="Page 2">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/8/24/EP1%20R03%20Retail%20-%20Town%20Square%20No%20Mist.jpg" alt="">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></body></html>

Ed.Square poised to become the new social centrepiece for south west Sydney

<html><body>
Billionaire property developer Lang Walker, executive chairman of Walker Corporation, has thrown his financial support behind the “United for Macarthur” A-League bid to establish a team in South West Sydney.
If successful, Walker Constructions will become a strategic partner of the A-League team, and also have substantial input in the upgrade of the stadium, other local sporting facilities and football clubs in the region.
Walker has elevated his involvement in the bid by committing to take a shareholding in the “United for Macarthur” entity vying to be the third A League licence in the Sydney region.
The move puts financial clout behind Mr. Walker’s existing role as business ambassador for the group.
The “United for Macarthur” bid is based on a co-operative, community-based model, playing in Campbelltown representing South West Sydney, communities in the Camden and Wollondilly areas as well as reaching parts of the Southern Highlands region to compete in the A League.  
The South West region will be the fastest growing Sydney corridor over the next 5 to 15 years with Government projecting the population to exceed over one million people. The bid has already attracted strong support from industry, sporting, political and community leaders. 
“We are very active in the Macarthur and the South West community, providing high quality housing and infrastructure to the region, and I am honoured to have been invited to participate in what I believe is a very compelling proposal,” Walker said.
“Sydney’s south-west is growing rapidly and has the facilities in place, with the centerpiece being Campbelltown Sports Stadium, to quickly become a force in the A-League,” he added.
While the bid carries the name “Macarthur” the reality is that the true catchment area for the A League submission extends well beyond the Macarthur region. The bid is framed to be a true community-based model embracing football fans and associations across the whole of Southwest Sydney.
Walker strongly believes the football-rich southwest region is deserving of an A League franchise and would like to see all football entities in this region come together to achieve this goal. This may include other Southwest Sydney clubs and business leaders who are invested in the process.
“The best opportunity to be one of the two teams awarded a new licence for the expanded A League is for the whole region to work together towards that goal,” he said.
The “United for Macarthur” bid is aligned to the State Governments Corridor Strategy, which will see Leumeah transformed into a regionally significant sporting and entertainment precinct.
Mayor of Campbelltown, Cr George Brticevic, said he was proud to have Mr Walker on board with a project that promises to offer so much to the Macarthur region.
“We are delighted to see Lang and his team join as shareholders in the Macarthur United Football Co-operative.  This Co-operative is now driving the Bid for the establishment of a new A League Team for our Region.  This opportunity would provide a significant boost to the Macarthur region and beyond” he said.
“Mr Walker’s increased commitment is compelling evidence of the strong chance we have in winning the bid, and an endorsement of our unique community-based model”.
</body></html>

South West Sydney

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

South West Sydney

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News