Aland Takes on Disgraced Developer’s Castle Hill ‘Mess’

Aland has announced it will complete construction and rectification works on a former Toplace development site opposite Castle Towers Shopping Centre.

This will do two things the collapsed builder could not achieve—complete the development at the former Target site in Castle Hills, and with an iCIRT Gold rating.

Aland was appointed to the project after receivers KordaMentha determind the best pathway for its completion.

The developer and construction group will work closely with the Building Commission NSW to complete buildings C, D and E and rectify any defects in the existing shared basement. 

This will ultimately create 964 apartments including 532 build-to-rent apartments to be completed by the developer, who is also the Parramatta Eels’ major sponsor in the NRL.

Aland founder Andrew Hrsto said they were known for turning around challenging projects and transforming them into award-winning residential complexes in sought-after suburbs.

“Aland maintains an end-to-end capability that uniquely positions us to take on these types of projects,” Hrsto said.

▲ Aland will complete buildings C, D and E on the site.

“Both KordaMentha and the Building Commission NSW clearly recognise our strong reputation, the quality of our product and our expertise and we are excited to drive this entire complex to completion.”

Now-retired NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler spoke to The Urban Developer this month and described Toplace as a “risky player” in the industry.

The licence of the company run by Jean Nassif was revoked in December, 2022, after an investigation into the Atmosphere and Skyview developments at Castle Hill, and Vicinity at Canterbury.

This included the 51-53 Old Castle Hill Road, Castle Hill, development that Aland will take over.

Also this week, developer Sam Kassis lodged plans for four new towers to create 264-apartments and a hotel on a former Toplace site at Castle Hill.