Orchard Piper secure planning permit for Toorak Village development as penthouse sells for $12.5 million

Property developer Orchard Piper has progressed its plans to develop a $120m mixed-use development in Melbourne’s most affluent streetscape, Toorak Village.

They've received planning permission for the consolidated land holdings at 109 Mathoura Road and 420-426 Toorak Road, which is set to offer just nine apartments and three levels of office space. Orchard Piper will relocate their HQ to the top floor.

Orchard Piper, led by Luke McKie and Rick Gronow, are expected to commence construction in a few months. The project received its permit with unanimous support from the City of Stonnington and no further appeals lodged by the community.

“We are very encouraged by Council’s positive response to the project and their interest in supporting high-quality architecture in the municipality," McKie says.

"This approval will transform a key corner of the Village and make a significant contribution to the streetscape, further driving the Villages’ ongoing resurgence,” says Orchard Piper Director.

The green light for the Toorak Village project marks Orchard Piper’s evolution toward more significant, mixed-use development, appointing internationally renowned Kerry Hill Architects (KHA), who are most known for their award-winning luxury hotel and resort portfolio which includes several Aman Resorts destinations in New Delhi, Tokyo, Kyoto and Shanghai. It will be KHA's first project in Victoria.

“Together with KHA, we are highly conscious of the impact the built form has on community and its enjoyment of streetscapes and surrounds," Mckie added.

"We take pride in our work and hope this quality addition to Toorak will be an asset for generations to enjoy."

Adding to Orchard Piper’s $1.1 billion portfolio, with $200 million of completed projects in the Stonnington locale alone, approved plans for the corner site will see a six-storey residential building complemented by high-end ground-floor retail and commercial offerings.

Fronting 109 Mathoura Road, the residential building will offer just nine apartments, each with three bedrooms and a minimum of three side-by-side car spaces. There will be just two apartments per floor.

Separately at 420 Toorak Road will be three floors of premium offices, with a covered retail colonnade activating the street level allowing premium-grade strata office stock to be purchased within the Village for the first time in over two decades.

Already Orchard Piper has sold the whole floor, 400 sqm penthouse, for $12.5 million, to a Melbourne business identity.

“We have received keen interest from our established network in preparation for this project – so much so, that we have been working with the purchaser of the penthouse for a few years now," Orchard Piper Director Rick Gronow says.

"They realise how rare of an offering this project is, and wanted to make sure they secured one of Melbourne’s finest penthouses ahead of the market, based on their previous knowledge of the quality that Orchard Piper delivers.”

Marshall White's Marcus Chiminello, as well as Kay & Burton's Andrew Sahhar, to conjunctionally sell the remaining apartments.

“We’re seeing the high-end prestige market continually performing in a strong manner which defies the general negative commentary created by increasing rate hikes," Chiminello says.

Inventory levels for quality properties are not keeping up with the pent-up demand for downsizers looking for bespoke, lock-up-and-leave apartments in and around Toorak Village,” says Chiminello.

“Stonnington Council is actively investing in the streetscape’s upgrade, and with younger generations coming through there is a lot of interest in securing a piece of the new Village.”

Orchard Piper’s Toorak Village project is one of its four current projects, part of its $800m pipeline scheduled for annual completion over the next five years.

Currently in its design phase, the developer’s subsequent offering for Toorak Village will see a continuation of the developer’s partnership with KHA for a $400m mixed-use development at the well-known Mercedes Benz Toorak site located at 7-11A & 17-19 Carters Avenue.

The Toorak Village project is set to officially launch to market in the coming months.

Read more: Former site of Mercedes-Benz Toorak set for $400 million transformation

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