Billbergia Unveils Rhodes Affordable Housing Plans

Family-owned Billbergia has unveiled early plans for a pair of mixed-use towers in Sydney’s inner north-west—a main area of focus for the developer’s projects.

In doing so, the Sydney-based developer is seeking to take advantage of fresh NSW Government legislation that allows height and floor space ratio (FSR) bonuses in exchange for projects that include affordable housing.

The prolific developer wants two residential buildings of 12 and 13 storeys plus five multi-storey terrace homes on a 7560sq m property in Rhodes—a neighbourhood jutting into the Parramatta River, about 12km from Sydney’s CBD.

Billbergia, which has lodged the proposal as Leeds Investment Pty Ltd, told the Department of Planning and Environment it would give over at least 10 per cent of the project’s residential component to affordable housing.

That’s in keeping with one of the key reforms introduced by the State Environmental Planning Policy Amendment (Housing) in 2023, which allow height and floor space ratio bonuses of up to 30 per cent for developments that include at least 10 to 15 per cent affordable housing for a minimum of 15 years.

Billbergia, which has been operating in the Rhodes area for more than 15 years, has an existing relationship with Evolve Housing, a registered community housing provider.

Town planners Urbis said the developer owned several sites across Rhodes that were strategically positioned near transport corridors and services, and had easy access to employment centres and recreational facilities.

▲ An SJB drawing showing the proposed layout of the two buildings and the multi-storey townhouses. The main image shows a render of some of Billbergia's planned and under construction projects across Rhodes.

“Accordingly, these sites are readily able to deliver affordable and market housing in accordance with the recent NSW Government policy direction,” Urbis wrote.

While precise plans have yet to be tabled, a scoping report by Urbis shows 150-170 apartments would be housed in the two towers. Five per cent would be studio apartments and almost half of two-bedroom.

Five multi-storey townhouses will also go on the amalgamated nine lots that make up the development site at 6-8 Cavell Avenue and 65-75 Blaxland Road.

Urbis said the developer had tried to buy the adjoining 700sq m property, with a single-storey 1960s house at 10 Cavell Avenue but had been unsuccessful.

Documents also show Billbergia has struck a deal with the owner of a childcare centre at 71 Blaxland Road, whereby the facility would become part of the development.

Under Canada Bay City Council’s local environmental plan, buildings of more than 28m must submit to a design competition. With affordable housing bonuses, the two residential towers will rise up to 46.8 metres. Urbis said a design competition report would be submitted with an environmental impact statement.

And, with estimated construction costs of more than $75 million, the proposal is considered a state significant development under State Environmental Planning Policy.