The monthly dwelling approval update by the Australian Bureau of Statistics again painted a grim outlook for Australia's new-build environment.

Total dwellings approved fell 3.6 per cent in November to 14,998.

There were most positives found in Victoria and Queensland where dwelling approvals remained stable and closer to their targets, although New South Wales is tracking well behind where they're forecasted to be.

The total number of dwellings approved in NSW was 42,109 over the 12 months until November 2024, 34,000 short of meeting the National Housing Accord quota for NSW.

"Despite a range of State and Federal programs designed to promote housing supply, dwelling approvals data from the last 12 months shows a chronic trend in the wrong direction," Urban Taskforce CEO Tom Forrest says, adding the new data shows there is a "mountain to climb".

"The data for NSW shows that Premier Minns is on the right track in looking to fast-track planning through the Housing Delivery Authority and through changes to the planning laws. The key to success will be through ensuring that new housing and employment remain the focus, and that planners don’t become distracted with other portfolio imperatives."

There has been a -10 per cent annual decline in approvals across all housing typologies in New South Wales. Apartment approvals declined a massive -26 per cent in the 12 months to November.

Stuart Ayres, CEO of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) NSW, says the&nbsp;NSW Government has a lot of work to do in 2025 to turn around the housing supply crisis that continues to inflict more pain on future homeowners. 
 
"With&nbsp;approvals&nbsp;in the detached house market sitting at a 10-year low, it is important that the Housing Delivery Authority (HDA) remains ambitious in supporting greenfield subdivisions," Ayres says. 
 
"The hope of the side at the moment is the Housing Delivery Authority. It is absolutely critical that it facilitates high demand and more feasible greenfield development and subdivisions, and not focus exclusively on less feasible infill projects."

&nbsp;

Multi-unit approvals in the three months to November 2024 climbed significantly in Western Australia (+207.5 per cent) compared to the corresponding period in the previous year. This was followed by Queensland (+16.0 per cent), Victoria (+9.4 per cent) and New South Wales (+1.6 per cent). The Northern Territory registered a flat result. Declines were recorded in Tasmania (-85.7 per cent), the Australian Capital Territory (-82.4 per cent), and South Australia (-15.1 per cent).

Apartment approvals in NSW declined a massive -26 per cent in the 12 months to November.

Joel Robinson

"Mountain to climb" as new home building activity falls

Deicorp’s latest Metro-connected project has been granted approval from the Independent Planning Commission (IPC), giving the burgeoning develop the green light to push on with 188 apartments in Crows Nest.&nbsp;

The 22-level building, which includes a three-storey podium with ground-floor retail and commercial space, will be built on the prominent Pacific Highway site known as The Five Ways.&nbsp;

The application for the project, known as <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/falcon-alexander-8-alexander-street-crows-nest">Falcon &amp; Alexander</a>, was lodged in April 2024 and assessed by the NSW Department of Planning, receiving a recommendation for approval in November. However, as the local council objected, the matter was required to be determined by the IPC.&nbsp;

The IPC invited submissions from the community as part of its determination, with 20 submissions received, including nine objections and 11 in support. &nbsp;

<img alt="Faclon &amp; Alexander" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="416f83c7-e10e-4de4-98a1-7269eee0dcce" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-01-07%20at%2012.29.27%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=el87Bo4ahmomkN2SNOhqiPWBBi3TxDVC" />

The Five Ways project is located around 350 metres from the new Crows Nest Metro Station, and with an active ground floor retail precinct, it will help revitalise the southern edge of the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/crows-nest-nsw-2065">Crows Nest</a> town centre.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner Studio</a> won the Design Excellence competition with their design being selected by the jury as the most desirable.&nbsp;

Deicorp’s founder Fouad Deiri said he was pleased with the outcome, and the work of the Department of Planning to support the application, despite opposition from North Sydney Council.&nbsp;

“We have been working for over five years to achieve approval on this site, including three separate planning proposals and a subsequent State Significant application,” Deiri said.&nbsp;

“The time it has taken to secure approval for this project highlights the difficulties the development industry faces in trying to build homes in Sydney. &nbsp;

“A community survey we undertook as part of the consultation process demonstrated a majority of residents in the area were either in favour of the project or neutral towards it.&nbsp;

“A significant majority of residents surveyed supported the substantial Affordable Housing within &nbsp;the project and the new retail precinct being provided.”&nbsp;

<img alt="Falcon" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eebd8543-6452-4930-a340-201b84a448e2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-01-07%20at%2012.29.38%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=R6KFfA6Vxa7EFra5k9JHDXXrBe.Rpqi5" />

Findings by the research and engagement firm Notting Hill Advisory revealed a significant portion of households polled in four key development hubs across Sydney, including the North Sydney local government area (LGA), were favourable to new housing located close to public transport and delivered with good amenity outcomes.&nbsp;

In the North Sydney LGA, where the Crows Nest development is located, 64 per cent of the residents surveyed also agreed the provision of affordable housing would benefit the community. There are 48 affordable housing units in Falcon &amp; Alexander.

The Five Ways approval adds to another recent significant project consent <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/deicorp">Deicorp</a> received in December, with their <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-exclusive-deicorp-submit-plans-for-joynton-square-mixed-use-zetland-precinct">Joynton Ave Zetland site</a> being signed off by the Central Sydney Planning Committee. Joynton Ave includes 574 apartments across nine buildings and a contribution of $28 million for Affordable Housing.

Deicorp expects to start construction on over 3,000 apartments in 2025.

The Five Ways project is located around 350 metres from the new Crows Nest Metro Station, and with an active ground floor retail precinct, it will help revitalise the southern edge of the Crows Nest town centre

Deicorp approved for Falcon & Alexander, Crows Nest new apartment development

There are thousands of apartments which will launch next year, across some of the best Gold Coast suburbs. We've looked at the developers behind the next tranche of projects launching in 2025.

The top eight new apartment developers to watch on the Gold Coast in 2025

The rarity of the recently completed apartment development Osprey, located in Safety Beach on the Mornington Pensinula, hasn't been lost on savvy property investors.

Around 30 per cent of enquiry on the 18 two and three-bedroom apartments have come from investors, Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson says.

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Investors have been particularly attracted to the rental guarantee offered by the builder-developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/figurehead">Figurehead</a>. This guarantee ensures that buyers purchasing for investment purposes will receive income upon settlement, until a tenant is secured.&nbsp;

Enquiry data from Urban.com.au shows the three-bedroom apartments, priced at $1.08 million and $1,495,000, have proved the most popular.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138447 project_image_fid=290614]

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/buildings/osprey-safety-beach-15-martha-cove-boulevard-safety-beach">Osprey</a>&nbsp;is ideally located to draw a tenant on a good yield. It sits just 150 metres from the Martha Cove Marina as well as&nbsp;Martha’s Table, a popular local dining and retail destination.

Martha's Cove is also a growing community, which is typically indicative of future compound growth, making it appealing to investors.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138447 project_image_fid=290733]

Osprey&nbsp;won the national award for Small Scale Development of the Year at the 2024 Urban Developer Awards. It was designed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/wolveridge-architects">Wolveridge Architects</a>&nbsp;who prioritised natural light, ventilation, and a coastal aesthetic, ensuring the apartments meet the lifestyle expectations of its occupants.

A special ‘lightwell breezeway’ serves as the entrance to every home, providing cross-ventilation and security.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138447 project_image_fid=290625]

The building sits on a prime elavated site which means there are significant views to Mount Martha and Red Hill.

The modern kitchens are well-equipped with Fisher and Paykel appliances and brushed nickel fittings.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=138447 project_image_fid=290744]

Thompson says while investors have shown a lot of demand for the apartments, there is a large pool of buyers who are looking at it as a 'liveable investment'.

"Osprey offers the perfect lock and leave option for those living in Melbourne who want a weekender on the Mornington Peninsula but without the maintenance," Thompson says.

"These types of buyers might not use it all the time, and will explore holiday letting opportunities when it's not in use."

The most active buyers so far have been those who have a close relationship with the Mornington Peninsula.

"Local downsizers who either live in the immediate area, or those who have large landholdings in some more remote areas of the Mornington Peninsula who want to be closer to the water, have been the most active buyers so far, Thompson says.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=138447]

Thompson says while investors have shown a lot of demand for the apartments, there is a large pool of buyers who are looking at it as a 'liveable investment'.

Investors signal market comeback at Osprey Safety Beach apartments

It was just last month that construction materials provider Hanson Australia rebranded to&nbsp;Heidelberg Materials Australia, in line with a global rebrand of the company.

A few weeks later, Heidelberg has submitted plans for a landmark riverside community in South Brisbane.

Heidelberg Materials Australia has had global design firm fjcstudio draw up plans for the 1.3-hectare precinct that will comprise three 50-level residential buildings with 620 apartments, a food and beverage plaza, and a 5,400 sqm public park.

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Fjcstudio says the eastern and southern towers respond to the Brisbane landscape with a subtle earthy tone facade, while the western tower, providing more premium views, features a largely glazed facade and white cladding.

Of the 620 apartments, only 15 per cent (96) will be one-beds. 122 two-bedroom apartments have been pitched, while 372 of the apartments, 60 per cent, will have three or more bedrooms.

The documents submitted to the Brisbane City Council suggest the&nbsp;prestigious development at the intersection of Nott Street and Hoskings Street "celebrates the area’s rich industrial heritage, seamlessly blending it with the vibrancy of an emerging inner-city lifestyle and the allure of a subtropical climate."

<img alt="Brisbane" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ea9c0d51-619e-421b-aa35-4b565a3930b2" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-12-23%20at%202.25.37%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=0f55SIn5elGITBU_SBmUsc1mTG0.bZ1w" />

Conversations about the development have been ongoing for 12 months prior to the recent submission. They focused on the&nbsp;riverfront parkland proposed dedication, proposed embellishments associated with the proposed park, parking location, and the built form of the tower, including setbacks and separation between the towers.

Each tower will have a rooftop communal level with outdoor terraces and alfresco spaces, as well as another level further down the building with a swimming pool and other facilities.

Urbis said in the town planning report that South Brisbane, and specifically the Kurilpa Precinct, is undergoing significant change in response to Brisbane’s demand for housing supply, affordability, and diversity in the inner-city areas.

"The current external circumstances have resulted in changes in policy including the adoption of the recently gazetted Kurilpa Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) Amendment No 1, which provides for greater density, building height and reduced car parking requirements where design and sustainability benchmarks can be delivered.

"The proposal comprises of an integrated, subtropical, high-density mixed-use development, which capitalises on the site’s location within the Kurilpa TLPI."

<img alt="Brisbane" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5646ca90-3f9c-439a-8724-51879f31e569" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202024-12-23%20at%202.26.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PjllO59Mho0BU9OcxMbYerQ7L3OHr8PQ" />

Urbis said the proposal "goes above and beyond the usual offering for a residential building with a level of community and public benefit that is unprecedented for a development of this scale in Brisbane."

"This level of community and public benefit are made possible through the additional density allowed for by the TLPI and is more than justified through its suburban, precinct and site-level context. This unique offering of a high-quality, high-density residential product will become an important landmark in South Brisbane and will set the benchmark for development in the region moving forward."

Currently on the site are industrial and warehouse buildings which have been owned and operated by Hanson.

Urbis said the proposal "goes above and beyond the usual offering for a residential building with a level of community and public benefit that is unprecedented for a development of this scale in Brisbane."

Olinda Tea House sells for $2.5 million

Prateek Chatterjee

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