Partners File Byron Bay Townhouse Plans

Two long-term Byron Bay couples are teaming up with a Sydney-based developer to build 20 townhouses across five buildings about a kilometre from the famous beach.

The unnamed owners of a 4400-sq-m property sold a half-share to senior managers from the buyers’ agency, Property Buyers in 2021, and the partners have now lodged a development application for the $14.7 million construction.

Property Buyers founder and chief executive Rich Harvey confirmed he and one of his directors, Daichi Somehara, had formed a joint venture with the owners to develop the site at 310 Ewingsdale Road.

Under the application before the Byron Shire Council, the partners would demolish a single-storey 1940s home, two sheds and two garages to make way for the development.

The plans call for 20 townhouses in five buildings, each of between two and three levels and above basement parking for 45 vehicles. Each of the homes will have two bedrooms, two living areas, a recessed roof space and front and rear courtyards.

The proposal seeks a variation to the maximum height of buildings to accommodate some “minor parts of the roof.”

▲ The 4400-sq-m development site is a little more than a kilometre from the famous surfing spot.

The irregularly shaped site has an 81m frontage to Ewingsdale Road, which is described as a “major collector road.”  The documents said there are plans to upgrade the capacity and construction standards of the road to four lanes.

Planning Ingenuity, which lodged the documents, said the council’s residential strategy identified that current housing stock in Byron’s municipality did not match the demands of households.

“In particular there is a lack of medium density housing for key worker households, downsizing households and newly establishing households,” the town planners said. 

“This proposal will increase the supply of small, low maintenance and high efficiency dwellings highly suited to these households’ needs with positive social outcomes for the local population.”

Soaring rental costs, and rising interest rates have made it nearly impossible for Australia’s key workers to live alone and close to their workplace, particularly in major tourist areas and popular beachfront towns. 

Property Buyers’ Harvey said he hoped the development could provide more affordable housing.

“Obviously, a lot of the Byron stock is all very upmarket,” he said.  “So hopefully we'll provide some more affordable accommodation for the area.”