Patrick Lau - Author | The Urban Developer

The site has long been associated with the John Cootes furniture empire, which had its first head office there.

Residential18 Nov 25

Tony Merhi’s Merrylands Plan Balloons to 900-Home Scheme

Patrick Lau

The proposal argues that TOD requirements for activated frontages and non-residential ground floors are inappropriate.

Residential20 Nov 25

Traders in Purple Moves Fast with Wollstonecraft Units

Patrick Lau

New high-speed rail infrastructure, including viaducts, bridges and tunnels, would be completed by 2042.

Infrastructure19 Nov 25

East Coast Bullet Train Plan Stoked as Europe Steams On

Patrick Lau

A design excellence competition was won by FJMT (now FJC) in 2018, and re-confirmed in 2023.

Residential19 Nov 25

Billbergia’s Fresh $1bn Plan Leads Wentworth Point Flurry

Patrick Lau

The proposal focuses on activating the ground plane, increasing connectivity, and making the space "sympathetic".

Office17 Nov 25

Quintessential Slashes Reno Plans for Sydney’s 1 Margaret St

Patrick Lau

The site is neighboured by DASCO and City West projects with significant affordable components.

Build-to-Rent13 Nov 25

Coronation Reveals 850-Home BtR Precinct in Sydney’s South

Patrick Lau

Commercial tenancies under local zoning are limited to specific uses such as hardware stores, and repair and recycling shops.

Office13 Nov 25

Marrickville Printer Reveals $32m ‘Hipster’ Office Scheme

Patrick Lau

A 2023 proposal for the site was scrapped, after new rules permitted additional height and FSR in exchange for affordable housing.

Residential05 Nov 25

Towering Chatswood Scheme Waved Ahead

Patrick Lau

The project has been long, difficult, and rewarding for Multiplex

Exclusive12 Nov 25

Engineering on Steroids: Sydney’s New Fish Market Completes

Patrick Lau

The government described the reforms as the largest shakeup of NSW planning in a generation.

Planning11 Nov 25

NSW Planning Shake-Up Promises Faster Approvals

Patrick Lau

Residential

Car-Free $44m Tower on Table for Sydney’s Chinatown

Fortitude Valley New Neighbourhood Plan hero

Placemaking

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to ‘Grow Up’ Under New Plan

Residential

Mirvac $1.2bn Darling Harbour Tower Passes Key Milestone

Student Housing

Bilinga PBSA Tower Waved Ahead on Appeal

Industrial

Tony Merhi’s Merrylands Plan Balloons to 900-Home Scheme

Traders in Purple Moves Fast with Wollstonecraft Units

East Coast Bullet Train Plan Stoked as Europe Steams On

Billbergia’s Fresh $1bn Plan Leads Wentworth Point Flurry

Quintessential Slashes Reno Plans for Sydney’s 1 Margaret St

Coronation Reveals 850-Home BtR Precinct in Sydney’s South

Marrickville Printer Reveals $32m ‘Hipster’ Office Scheme

Towering Chatswood Scheme Waved Ahead

Engineering on Steroids: Sydney’s New Fish Market Completes

NSW Planning Shake-Up Promises Faster Approvals

Car-Free $44m Tower on Table for Sydney’s Chinatown

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to ‘Grow Up’ Under New Plan

Mirvac $1.2bn Darling Harbour Tower Passes Key Milestone

Bilinga PBSA Tower Waved Ahead on Appeal

Warehouse, Industrial Rents Fall as Market Repositions

Tony Merhi’s Merrylands Plan Balloons to 900-Home Scheme

Traders in Purple Moves Fast with Wollstonecraft Units

East Coast Bullet Train Plan Stoked as Europe Steams On

Billbergia’s Fresh $1bn Plan Leads Wentworth Point Flurry

Quintessential Slashes Reno Plans for Sydney’s 1 Margaret St

Coronation Reveals 850-Home BtR Precinct in Sydney’s South

Marrickville Printer Reveals $32m ‘Hipster’ Office Scheme

Towering Chatswood Scheme Waved Ahead

Engineering on Steroids: Sydney’s New Fish Market Completes

NSW Planning Shake-Up Promises Faster Approvals

Car-Free $44m Tower on Table for Sydney’s Chinatown

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley to ‘Grow Up’ Under New Plan

Mirvac $1.2bn Darling Harbour Tower Passes Key Milestone

Bilinga PBSA Tower Waved Ahead on Appeal

Warehouse, Industrial Rents Fall as Market Repositions