Plans by Dexus for a 13-storey shoptop tower that would upgrade an ageing asset in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs are among the latest to win state significant status. Dexus and other development heavy-hitters Toga, Urban Property Group and Central Element are among developers to gain SSD status under the latest tranche, announced by NSW planning minister Paul Scully this week. Among assets it took over when it acquired AMP Capital in a billion-dollar-buyout in 2023, Dexus plans 237 apartments as part of the scheme for the Royal Randwick Shopping Centre, 7.5km south-east by road from the Sydney CBD. Several years before the Dexus takeover, Urbis had investigated the redevelopment of AMP Capital’s retail assets and found the Randwick centre had the “most significant” development opportunities. The plans comprise the apartments with 3 per cent allocated as affordable housing, three levels of commercial and community facilities and through-site links for the parcel at 73-109 Belmore Road. Dexus was among developers to file expressions-of-interest applications with the Housing Development Authority in mid-March. Among those to succeed, Toga won SSD status for a shoptop housing precinct at Five Dock of buildings up to 26-storeys plus ground floor retail and community spaces. The 750-home scheme includes an eight-storey co-living or build-to-rent building for the site at 49-77 Parramatta Road, 2-10 Harris Road, 35-57 Queens Road and 5-29 Courland Street. Urban Property Group filed two sets of plans with the Housing Development Authority but only its 38-storey proposal for the former Wollongong City Motors site met the authority’s criteria. That project comprises 270 apartments including 15 per cent as affordable, 150 hotel rooms and commercial space on the 4-4a Flinders Street, North Wollongong site. The builder-developer acquired the 2734sq m site near the train station for $12.5 million in May last year. ▲ The Wollongong City Motors site at North Wollongong. Urban’s other proposal, for 446 apartments, across a 45-storey tower at 614-632 High Street, Penrith did not meet the authority’s objectives due to its shovel-readiness and will now need an alternative approval path. Central Element won SSD status for its planned 140 apartments across a 20-storey tower in harbourside Lavender Bay, at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street. Fourteen projects have been recommended by the authority in this tranche which, if lodged and approved, could add 5200 homes. To date, 116 proposals of more than 45,200 potential homes have been declared state significant and are now progressing through the NSW planning system. Since the formation of the authority in January, 43 projects have had Secretary Environmental Assessment Requirements issued and one development application has been filed.
