LAS Groups Plots 25-Storey Apartment Highrise at Southbank

Developer LAS Group has filed plans with the City of Melbourne council for a 25-storey residential tower at Southbank.

The project at 38 Clarke Street at the corner of City Road and Clarke Street would comprise 188 one and two-bedroom apartments, all build-to-sell.

The site is next to the Crown Casino. Constructions cost has been reported as $70 million.

Fender Katsalidis designed the plans for the tower, which eschews a predominantly glass facade and embraces Southbank’s industrial heritage with the lower levels clad in red-brick detailing and sporting arched windows. 

Southbank is within the City of Melbourne’s flood zone, meaning the building needs to be flood resilient.

Its ground floor will be 2.5m above street level and the lower ground floor at street level with bicycle storage spaces, parking areas and a pool and gym contained on that level.

Planned are more than 200 bicycle storage spaces, reflecting the City of Melbourne’s move to encourage more use of green and public transport options. 

The building would be fully electric with angled fins part of the design to reduce solar heat gain.

In 2022, Tim Gurner announced plans to turn a Southbank hostel at 334 City Road into $250m apartment tower.

LAS Group said it was keen to tap into the segment of the market looking for a home at a more affordable price point.

“One and two-bedroom apartments are highly sought after in Melbourne’s Southbank, particularly at a mid-tier price point,” LAS Group spokesperson Les Smith said.

Developers remain keen on Southbank with projects by Gurner and Beulah currently under way.