Southbank BtR Skyscraper Project Takes Step Forward

Developer PDG Corporation has filed plans for the subdivision of a project slated for Southbank near the Yarra River.

It follows the company’s application for planning permission filed in late 2020 for a 42-storey tower on the site of the Boyd School at 132 Kavanagh Street

That application was approved by the-then Victorian planning minister Richard Wynne.

Plans by DKO Architects comprise 434 build-to-rent apartments with 40 set aside for affordable housing.

Amenities for the project include a swimming pool, spa, gym, multi-purpose fitness room, function space, outdoor barbecue, dog run, golf driving nets and a putting green, co-working spaces, library, games room, and three private dining spaces on the top floor.

PDG Corporation initially had a land sale and development agreement for $16.5 million in 2019 with the City of Melbourne for the site and had planned a 32-storey tower with 176 apartments and 40 affordable housing units.

In December 2021, PDG announced it would partner with Oxford Properties and Indi on the project and increase the number of apartments to 434.

▲ A render of the skyscraper proposed by PDG Corp.

Indi is Investa’s build-to-rent platform that was launched in May 2021 with plans for a 5000-apartment portfolio. Two projects, Indi Sydney City and Indi at Footscray, are currently under construction.

Its partnership with PDG raised Indi’s total pipeline to 1370 apartments.

The City of Melbourne said that the application for subdivision of the tower was in the early stages of assessment.

▲ A render of the proposed skyscraper.