Approvals

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Newly approved housing supply has moved to new record heights, with 214,331 dwelling approvals recorded nationally over the past year.
The proportion of these approvals which were for units is also at a record high, accounting for 45.9% of all approvals.
The surge in dwelling approvals has coincided with very low interest rates and surging demand from the investment segment of the market. 
Across the combined capital cities more than half of all dwelling approvals are for units and in each capital city (except Adelaide, Perth and Hobart) more than 50% of approvals over the past year were for units. 
Data from the 2011 Census shows that across the country units are more than twice as likely to be rented as houses. This would indicate a clear preference from the investment segment which is currently so active, for units over houses.
While the number of new dwellings being approved is significant, it is worthwhile examining on a smaller scale the regions where the new housing supply is being approved. Looking at dwelling approvals across SA4 regions of the country, we have listed the top 20 regions for approvals for both houses and units over the 2014-15 financial year to April 2014.
For houses, the region with the greatest number of approvals over the financial year to-date was South East Melbourne (which includes council regions such as Casey and Cardinia) with 4,874 approvals. Looking at the top 20 list published, 15 of the 20 regions listed are located within capital cities with only Geelong, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, Latrobe-Gippsland and Bunbury in non-capital city areas. The top 20 list shows 3 NSW regions, 6 regions from Vic, 5 regions from Qld, 1 SA region and 5 regions from WA.
<a href="/images/2015/06/30/2015-06-22--01--house-approvals-2014-15-financial-year-SA4-regions.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
 <img src="/images/2015/06/30/2015-06-22--01--house-approvals-2014-15-financial-year-SA4-regions.jpg" alt="">
Turning to unit approvals, the list highlights the magnitude of approvals in Inner Melbourne with 12,516 approvals so far this financial year.
This region is already seeing a huge volume of new construction and the pipeline just keeps growing.
To put the volume of approvals in perspective, Brisbane Inner City with the second highest number of approvals (5,808) has less than half as many unit approvals as Inner Melbourne.
The Gold Coast is the only non-capital city area listed amongst the top 20 regions for unit approvals. Looking at the state-by-state breakdown there are 6 NSW regions listed, 6 Vic regions, 4 Qld regions, 1 SA region, 2 WA regions and 1 ACT region.
<a href="/images/2015/06/30/2015-06-22--02--unit-approvals-2014-15-financial-year-SA4-regions.jpg" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2015/06/30/2015-06-22--02--unit-approvals-2014-15-financial-year-SA4-regions.jpg" alt="">
 
With the pipeline of construction activity remaining high and much of it high-density development, the multiplier effect from heightened construction activity should continue for a number of years. 
Of course the biggest hurdle may start to be achieving necessary presales for these projects commence particularly given that many financial institutions are now starting to tighten their lending practices on the request of APRA. 
With a particular focus on investment mortgages this may have an impact on demand from investors who are seemingly a key driver of the surging demand for inner city units.
Cameron Kusher is RP Data’s senior research analyst. Follow Cameron on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/cmkusher" target="_blank">here</a>. 
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Surge in dwelling approvals: Cameron Kusher

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has released building approvals data for April 2018. Looking specifically at dwelling approvals, there were 18,701 houses and units approved for construction in April 2018.
The number of approvals is remarkably resilient considering that dwelling values are falling and there has been a significant volume of new housing approved over recent years.
In fact, building activity data for the December 2017 quarter showed there was a record high 46,359 dwellings approved for construction that had not yet commenced.
Since December 2017 a further, 77,634 dwellings have been approved for construction, it will be interesting to see just how many actually are built in the short-term given the backlog which already exists awaiting commencement.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/31/pluse%201.jpg" alt=""> 
In April 2018, the 18,701 dwelling approvals were split between 10,618 approvals for houses and 8,083 approvals for units. The 18,701 approvals was the lowest monthly number of approvals since December 2017 however, house approvals were 0.7% higher over the month while unit approvals were -11.6% lower.
The 10,618 house approvals was actually the greatest monthly number of approvals since April 2015 while the 8,083 unit approvals was the fewest since December 2017. House approvals in April 2018 were just -2.2% lower than their recent cyclical peak while unit approvals were -31.9% lower than their peak.
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/31/pluse%202.jpg" alt="">
Taking a closer look at units the data shows that approvals for high rise and townhouses fell over the month while low-rise unit approvals increased moderately. The chart also highlights the magnitude of the surge in high-rise approvals over recent years.
Historically the number of high-rise units and townhouse approvals has been fairly similar however, over recent years high-rise units have well and truly dominated the landscape.
With high rise unit projects becoming harder to make stack-up and presales more difficult as values fall, it’s expected that going forward there will be fewer high-rise approvals and potentially an uplift in medium density approvals such as low- rise units and townhouses.
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/31/pulse%203.jpg" alt="">
The above chart shows a six month trend of the monthly house approvals data across each capital city. The charts show a clear declining trend in house approvals across Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. At the same time, approvals have remained steady over recent months in Melbourne and Darwin and have started to lift in both Hobart and Canberra.
 <img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/5/31/pulse%204.jpg" alt="">
On average over the past six months there have been far more units approved for construction in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra and far more units approved in each of the other capital cities.
Although unit approvals have eased back of late, they remain close to historic highs in Melbourne and remain well above long-term average levels in Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Canberra.
After years of booming unit approvals and a more moderate lift in house approvals, the recent falls in unit approvals comes at a time in which house approvals are climbing. As the data has shown, the recent declines in unit approvals are being led by high-rise units approvals which have surged to record levels over recent years.
Difficulty with getting finance and the necessary presales to proceed with large scale projects is likely to mean that moving forward houses and lower-density unit projects are likely to be the preferred options for developers.
That’s not to say that high-rise projects still won’t occur but they aren’t expected to be occurring at the magnitude seen over recent years.
Of course just because a dwelling is approved for construction doesn’t mean it will get built immediately.
The building activity data for the end of 2017 showed a record high volume of dwellings approved for construction but not commenced. If anything we would anticipate the number of dwellings in this category to increase further over the coming quarters, especially given the ongoing weakening of the Sydney and Melbourne housing markets.
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Building approvals remain resilient in face of falling dwelling values: Cameron Kusher

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EXPERT OBSERVATION
Australian housing finance approvals were a touch firmer than expected in April, the number of owner occupier loans down just 1.4% vs expectations of a slightly larger 1.8% decline.
The value of investor loans recorded a 0.9% dip, much milder than March's 9% drop. Despite this, conditions were soft across most of the detail.
The number of new owner occupier approvals, i.e. excluding refinancing, was more in line with consensus, with a 1.9% decline in April taking approvals down 4.4%yr.
The total value of housing finance approvals, including investors but including owner occupier refi, dipped 0.4%mth to be down 5.8%yr (estimates excluding investor refi look to be down about 6.7%yr). Stepping back, the peak to trough move in the value of new finance approvals looks to be a fall of about 10%, roughly on a par with the 2015-16 pull back.
Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/6/13/finance%20approvals.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2018/6/13/finance%20approvals.jpg" alt="">
The number of owner occupier construction approvals dipped 0.2% to be down 5.7%yr. The number of owner occupier approvals for the purchase of newly built dwellings fell 3.7%mth but is still up 2.9%yr. On a combined basis, construction-related approvals were down 1.4%mth, –2.9%yr.
The number of approvals to first home buyers (FHBs) continues to ease back from recent highs, declining 1.6%mth. Although approvals are still up 24%yr, they are now 10% off their Nov peak. Activity in this segment has been boosted by increased assistance from state governments in NSW and Vic – measures that in the past have typically generated a significant pull forward in activity that subsequently falls away.
The state breakdown had more detail than usual this month due to the timing of the release which coincided with the release of state lending data for investor loans. The combined figures shows the biggest annual declines in the total value of approvals (incl. investor loans but excl. owner occupier refi) have been in WA (–8.8%yr), NSW (–6%yr) and Qld (–6%yr) with a milder 2.9%yr fall in SA. Vic has seen a slight gain (+1.9%yr) while Tasmania has bucked the national trend with a strong surge (+15.4%yr).
More recent data, from auction markets in particular, suggest housing market conditions have seen a further weakening since April likely reflecting tighter lending criteria. With more stringent assessments also likely to delay loan processing, finance approvals could see a more significant decline in the next few months.
Matthew Hassan is senior economist with <a href="https://www.westpac.com.au/" target="_blank">Westpac</a>.
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Housing finance approvals dip in May: Westpac

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Approvals for new detached houses across Australia have sagged to their lowest level since June 2013.
Building approvals in April 2019 indicate that the number of approvals for all categories of new dwelling fell by 4.7% during the month. New detached house approvals dropped by 2.9% while the volume of approvals for apartments/units saw a 7.2% fall. Total approvals are now down by 24.2% over the past year.
Since the beginning of the new home building downturn in late 2017, the bulk of the pain has been concentrated in the high density segment of the market. 
With today’s figures now showing detached house approvals at a 6-year low, it is ominous that the weakness in new home building is spreading to those parts of the market which are traditionally more resilient during downturns.
Obviously, these figures relate to the month immediately prior to the federal election and the political uncertainty which was then at play has contributed to the weaker results for April.
Now that there has been a clear conclusion to the federal election, a real opportunity exists to push home building activity back in the right direction. 
Many significant infrastructure projects have been announced by government over the past year. Speedily converting these announcements into real, visible activity on the ground would provide a major boost to the building industry, the wider economy and confidence more generally.
During April 2019, the number of approvals for new home rose in Queensland (+11.3%), followed by the ACT (+7.7%) and New South Wales (4.8%). 
The largest drop in new dwelling approvals affected Tasmania (-19.1%) followed by Victoria (-16.1%). There were also falls in new home approvals in Western Australia (-6.7%), South Australia (-3.3%) and the Northern Territory (-2.0%). 
SHANE GARRETT is Master Builders Australia’s Chief Economist
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Detached house approvals reach six year low: Shane Garrett

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The decline in dwelling approvals appears to be losing momentum, the HIA chief economist Tim Reardon advised after the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics release of its monthly building approvals data covering all states and territories.
Approvals in May 2019 were up by 0.7% from the previous month.
The improvement was led by multi-unit approvals (+2.1%) with detached house approvals down marginally (-0.2%), noted Reardon.
"Recent positive news relating to house prices and new home sales has started filtering through," he said.
"Even if this isn’t the bottom of the cycle the pick-up in new home sales in May suggests the pace of decline is slowing.
"We’re hopeful market confidence has improved following the Federal election and retention of current property taxation arrangements.
"Back-to-back interest rate cuts from the RBA and the pending reforms to APRA’s mortgage lending guidelines should act to minimise any further contraction in residential building."
Seasonally adjusted building approvals in May 2019 were up by 14.4% in Victoria and were flat in NSW.
Approvals declined in Tasmania (-1.2%), South Australia (-2.9%), Western Australia (-4.7%) and Queensland (-6.3%).
In trend terms, approvals in May lifted by 7.2% in the ACT and were down by 6.1% in the Northern Territory.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2019/7/4/building%20approvals%20.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2019/7/4/building%20approvals%20.jpg" alt="">
Source: HIA 
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Housing downturn loses momentum as good news rolls in: HIA 

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ABS Building Approvals data for October continues to show the positive impact of HomeBuilder on the detached house market with the highest number of approvals since early 2000, according to HIA Economist, Angela Lillicrap.
“HomeBuilder was the catalyst for improving consumer confidence in the housing market. The strength of building approvals is due to several factors including low interest rates and changes in consumer preferences."
“HIA New Home Sales data suggests that detached house building approvals will continue to be strong over the coming months. The extension of HomeBuilder will see these strong results carry on well into 2021," added Ms Lillicrap.
Detached house approvals increased by 18.6 per cent in the three months to October 2020 compared to the preceding three months and are 23.2 per cent higher than the same time last year.
Western Australia has seen the largest improvement in the last three months with detached housing approvals 62.8 per cent higher than the same time last year. This is due to the pent up demand for new housing in the state, as well as other state government stimulus measures.
Queensland and the Northern Territory have also experienced strong increases in detached housing approvals, up by 33.0 per cent and 30.6 per cent respectively, on the preceding three months.
Multi-unit approvals remain 12.5 per cent lower than the same time last year.
"The small number of multi-unit projects that gained approval in October are likely to have commenced the planning and building approval process years ago. These are not a good indicator of prospective commencements in this part of the market."
"Slower population growth, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne, and an increased preference for detached houses, will likely see demand for apartments constrained going into 2021,” concluded Ms Lillicrap.
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Detached dwelling approvals soar in WA followed by Victoria, Queensland and NSW

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The past fortnight has seen three major development applications within City of Parramatta's boundaries receive the go ahead.

Hundreds of new hotel suites and residential apartments stand to be added to both Parramatta's core and emerging apartment enclave Wentworth Point. The trio of developments also stand to add near on $400 million in construction activity to the municipality.

Earlier this week Parramatta's 89 George Street received final approval. Starwood Hotels have committed to the 27 storey tower, with Four Points By Sheraton Parramatta expected to take residence by April 2020.

JZL Properties and Sandstone Capital have backed the project which went to planning late last year, with the intention of providing 271 new hotel rooms within a purpose built tower. Architecture firm Group GSA handled the tower's design, incorporating ancillary uses such as 722 square metres of function space, bar, restaurant, gym and pool.

Parramatta's strong uptake of hotel accommodation continues to generate new hotel activity with recent mooted projects including a 33 storey redevelopment of the Roxy Hotel and additional Meriton Suites slated for Parramatta's riverfront.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image43_15.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Four Points By Sheraton Parramatta. Image: Starwood Hotels"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="342" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image43_15.jpg?itok=5HW_XSDS" title="Four Points By Sheraton Parramatta. Image: Starwood Hotels" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Four Points By Sheraton Parramatta. Image: Starwood Hotels</figcaption></figure>Second most recent to gain approval is Block B 6-8 Baywater Drive which is the latest substantial apartment development for the Wentworth Point Urban Activation Precinct.

Expected are 275 apartments within a Tier Architects-designed u-shaped apartment block with a central communal garden and courtyard. The approved project sits between the first stage of Nascorp Properties' Harbour Village apartment development and the mouth of the Parramatta River.

Harbour Village's initial release includes approximately 400 apartments, with the freshly approved Block B shaping as the next major release.

Spanning 9 storeys at its highest point, Block B 6-8 Baywater Drive includes 85 single, 151 double and 39 triple bedroom apartments within the build which is valued at just under $75 million. Block B 6-8 Baywater Drive adds to the thousands of new apartments planned or in delivery within Wentworth Point.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image40_12.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="6-8 Baywater Drive Wentworth Point. Planning image: Tier Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="389" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image40_12.jpg?itok=1d5IdMP6" title="6-8 Baywater Drive Wentworth Point. Planning image: Tier Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>6-8 Baywater Drive Wentworth Point. Planning image: Tier Architects</figcaption></figure>Rounding out the trio is Coronation Property 's statement tower at 8 Phillip Street in Parramatta's CBD. The Woods Bagot-designed tower is a mix of apartment and hotel uses, and is expected to stand 200 metres above the Parramatta streetscape.

Final approval was granted at the turn of July for the development which carries an estimated delivery cost of $238.7 million. The 55-storey tower includes 314 apartments, approximately 250 hotel rooms, function/conference facilities and 9 levels of basement parking.

QT Hotels &amp; Resorts have signed on for the tower's hotel aspect, taking approximately 15 levels. Additional project drawcards include a level 18 pool and green space, two restaurants including a Sake by Rockpool Dining Group and a rooftop bar.

Although final approval arrived within the past fortnight, 8 Phillip Street's apartments have been marketed for some time. 

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/image44_6.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="8 Phillip Street's open air pool. Image: Coronation"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image44_6.jpg?itok=nmWENvhJ" title="8 Phillip Street's open air pool. Image: Coronation" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>8 Phillip Street's open air pool. Image: Coronation</figcaption></figure>
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silvermb

Three major approvals spur City of Parramatta's construction boom

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In the planning sense, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/melbourne-vic">Melbourne</a> currently finds itself coming off an all-time high. Whilst numerous large-scale projects are either at construction or have just been delivered, developers have been somewhat more hesitant to plough on with larger planning applications over the course of 2017.

In between project delivery and initiating the planning process for the next generation of noteworthy buildings, there still remains a mass of applications lodged during 2016 at arguably the tail end of the recent apartment development boom which only now are finding resolution. This tranche of large but not exceedingly large apartment and mixed-use projects will form the backbone of construction across Melbourne in the years to come.

After the turn of the new financial year, an abnormally large number of these pending projects have been given the green light across metropolitan Melbourne, making for a plumper development pipeline.

A cross-referencing of the Urban.com.au Project Database with the planning platforms of various councils has yielded a substantial number of projects that have been approved in the past two months. Thousands of new apartments and hundreds of student accommodation beds across 20 major projects are now clear to proceed at the discretion of the respective developers.

Whilst August boomed for approvals, part one of this focus on the new wave of approvals will account for July 2017.

<h2><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/highett-vic">Highett on top</a></h2>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image15_10.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Highett's new tallest. Image: Growland"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="601" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image15_10.jpg?itok=vwJ-mr8x" title="Highett's new tallest. Image: Growland" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Highett's new tallest. Image: Growland</figcaption></figure>VCAT paved the way for a planning permit to be granted during July for Highett's new tallest building.

Developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/growland-group">Growland</a> has commenced soft marketing for what will eventually become <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/horizon-1233-nepean-highway-highett">HoriZon Highett</a>. At 13 levels the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>-designed building opposite Southland comfortably out does any existing Highett buildings for height, and is expected to contain 200 plus dwellings.

<h2>PDG Corporation primed </h2>

Two of developer PDG Corporation's four forthcoming developments gained the green light during July.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/west-melbourne-vic">West Melbourne's</a> <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/gadsden-17-37-abbotsford-street-west-melbourne">17-37 Abbotsford Street</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/611-681-elizabeth-street-melbourne">611-681 Elizabeth Street</a> shape as two substantial projects for the developer who's current interests also include the Munro site at adjacent to QVM and a prospective Barkly Street, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/brunswick-vic">Brunswick</a> apartment block.

As initially submitted, 17-37 Abbotsford Street included 200 apartments and a healthy retail aspect, whilst the reworked Elizabeth Street development on the current Melbourne City Toyota site will also yield hundreds of new dwellings.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image17_14.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="West Melbourne and Elizabeth Street. Images: DKO Architecture and SJB Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="203" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image17_14.jpg?itok=ef9nvl8S" title="West Melbourne and Elizabeth Street. Images: DKO Architecture and SJB Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>West Melbourne and Elizabeth Street. Images: DKO Architecture and SJB Architects</figcaption></figure><h2>Suburban infill</h2>

The <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/interlandi-mantesso">Interlandi Mantesso</a>-designed <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/31-43-puckle-street-moonee-ponds">31-43 Puckle Street</a> can now be delivered after receiving a planning permit.

Receiving a Notice of Decision during July, the project is spread over 10 levels and includes 84 apartments and an arcade that will host over 1,000sqm of retail space. The project's stand out feature is its multicoloured facade treatment to its southern and western facades.

Another infill development project adding to its respective suburb's apartment-driven credentials is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/10-lilydale-grove-10-16-lilydale-grove-hawthorn-east">10-16 Lilydale Grove</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/hawthorn-east-vic">Hawthorn East</a>. With both Lilydale Grove and the adjoining Montrose Street receiving higher density apartment projects in recent years, 10-16 Lilydale Grove is the latest to add to the area's rapidly evolving streetscape.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/residence-company-pty-ltd">Residence Company Pty Ltd</a> is behind the <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/ellis-group-architects">Ellis Group Architects</a>-designed project that includes 86 apartments and a single retail tenancy.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image18_19.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Puckle Street and Lilydale Grove. Images: Interlandi Mantesso &amp; Ellis Group Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="271" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image18_19.jpg?itok=pfnaZjQO" title="Puckle Street and Lilydale Grove. Images: Interlandi Mantesso &amp; Ellis Group Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Puckle Street and Lilydale Grove. Images: Interlandi Mantesso &amp; Ellis Group Architects</figcaption></figure><h2><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/st-kilda-vic">St Kilda duo</a></h2>

The now demolished Greyhound Hotel at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/1-brighton-road-st-kilda">1 Brighton Road</a>, St Kilda has received approval for a residential development. Initial plans for the prominent corner site saw <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/terry-harper-architects">Terry Harper Architects</a> design an 8 storey building incorporating 43 apartments above 5 retail tenancies.

Approved by VCAT during July, site demolition has been undertaken despite an attempt by Port Phillip Council to gain heritage protection for the landmark structure.

Also nearly, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/190-192-st-kilda-road-st-kilda">190-192 St Kilda Road</a> gained the green light. It is noteworthy simply for its design prowess; small in stature consisting of limited commercial space plus a sole dwelling, the project is big on character with <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/peddle-thorp-architects">Peddle Thorp</a> the design force.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image20stk.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The works of Terry Harper Architects and Peddle Thorp"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="254" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image20stk.jpg?itok=TmaA3bGJ" title="The works of Terry Harper Architects and Peddle Thorp" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The works of Terry Harper Architects and Peddle Thorp</figcaption></figure>Tomorrow Urban.com.au will highlight the altogether more robust list of approvals granted during August 2017.
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The next wave: 20 freshly approved projects that will further redefine our city

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Continuing from <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/the-next-wave-20-freshly-approved-projects-that-will-further-redefine-our-city">yesterday's piece</a> covering the boon in recent approvals across greater Melbourne during July, August's approvals and NOD's take precedence below. 

Only last week Urban.com.au <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/marriott-confirmed-for-docklands-as-malvern-scores-its-own-substantial-hotel-project">covered the news</a> that<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/the-docklands-residences-3-43-waterfront-way-docklands"> 3-43 Waterfront Way</a> within <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/the-docklands-residences-3-43-waterfront-way-docklands">Dockland</a> gained approval during August, with a new Marriott-branded hotel confirmed for the development. The second part of Melbourne's mid year planning bonanza continues below beginning with other projects that fall within City of Melbourne's boundaries.

<h2>CoM approve</h2>

In the City of Melbourne, after a number of design iterations the residential tower slated for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/494-502-albert-street-east-melbourne">502 Albert Street, East Melbourne</a> has a planning permit.

Created by DCM Architects, the tower has found resolution after 31 months at planning. The most recently advertised version design saw a 20-storey building intended for the site which overlooks Parliament Gardens. 

Included are 105 apartments which are skewed toward single bedroom abodes, after initially being submitted as an ultra-luxury development.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image28melb.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="East Melbourne, North Melbourne and Southbank in clockwise formation"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="287" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image28melb.jpg?itok=HLCobtrA" title="East Melbourne, North Melbourne and Southbank in clockwise formation" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>East Melbourne, North Melbourne and Southbank in clockwise formation</figcaption></figure>The planning process for two other developments is all but completed; <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/31-coventry-street-southbank">31 Coventry Street, Southbank</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/15-27-wreckyn-street-north-melbourne">North Melbourne's 15-27 Wreckyn Street</a> both received a Notice of Decision to Grant Permit during August.

The former is an Elenberg Fraser-inspired tower of 120 apartments across 21 storeys for developer <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/headland-properties">Headland Properties</a>. It is a redesign amalgamating two separate development sites to create a more substantial scheme with an increased apartment yield and improved resident amenity.

15-27 Wreckyn Street, on the other hand, is UniLodge's latest offering, with hundreds of new student beds sweating on a final permit prior to construction commencing.

<h2>CoPP approve</h2>

Three significant applications within City of Port Phillip can now become bona fide projects. August heralded the approval of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/saint-moritz-14-16-the-esplanade-st-kilda">14-16 The Esplanade</a>, <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/the-charnwood-60-st-kilda-road-st-kilda">54-60 St Kilda Road</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/park-ave-39-park-street-south-melbourne">37-43 Park Street</a>.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/barana-group">Barana Group's</a> bid to transform the current Novotel Melbourne <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/st-kilda-vic">St Kilda</a> into 236 dwellings can proceed. Under plans conceived by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/metier3">Metier3 Architects</a>, The Esplanade will eventually be home to a collection of townhouses and apartments, with the mix weighted toward larger two and three bedroom apartments.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image32_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Park Street, St Kilda Road and The Esplanade"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="403" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image32_8.jpg?itok=8vkIgGhM" title="Park Street, St Kilda Road and The Esplanade" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Park Street, St Kilda Road and The Esplanade</figcaption></figure><a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/spacious-property-development-group-pty-ltd">Spacious Group</a> has also found joy with 54-60 St Kilda Road. The developer now has a <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/hayball">Hayball-designed</a> apartment building in its keep, with the initial application calling for 103 apartments and 500sqm of retail space within a 10 level building, which will eventually replace a low-rise commercial building currently onsite.

Elsewhere and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/milbex">Milbex</a> has been successful in increasing the size of its intended tower at 37-43 Park Street, South Melbourne. Dubbed 39W, the tower can now accommodate circa 200 apartments across 20 levels and is a short distance to Milbex's initial project in the area at 52 Park street.

<h2>Middle-ring gains</h2>

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/387-403-malvern-road-south-yarra">387-403 Malvern Road</a> received the go-ahead for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/metrobuild-pty-ltd">Metrobuild Pty Ltd.</a> Under plans devised by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/cbg-architects">CBG Architects</a> the 6 level building can accommodate upwards of 40 dwellings.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image36app.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Airport West, Hawthorn and South Yarra in clockwise formation"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="499" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image36app.jpg?itok=gH4pDvux" title="Airport West, Hawthorn and South Yarra in clockwise formation" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Airport West, Hawthorn and South Yarra in clockwise formation</figcaption></figure>Key projects in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/hawthorn-vic">Hawthorn</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/airport-west-vic">Airport West</a> also received a Notice of Decision during August.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/pillar-of-hawthorn-538-542-burwood-road-hawthorn">538-542 Burwood Road</a> is primed to add 25 apartments for <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/miura-group">Miura Group</a> whilst <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developers/one-pacific-asia-group-pty-ltd">One Pacific Asia Group Pty Ltd</a> is closer to making a mixed-use building at <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/new-apartments/83-matthews-avenue-airport-west">83 Matthews Avenue</a> a reality. That project shapes as the first major development within the rezoned Airport West Activity Centre, and as submitted would include apartments, serviced apartments and commercial space.

<h2>Suburban splendour</h2>

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/glen-waverley-vic">Glen Waverley</a> continues to attract a solid stream of higher density projects, with the latest approved being <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/50-montclair-avenue-glen-waverley">50 Montclair Avenue</a>. The development will see 38 apartments and commercial space over 13 levels, in a scheme devised by <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/life-design-architecture">Life Design Architecture</a>.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/image40app.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Glen Waverley and Moorabbin's sprawling South Road development"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="253" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image40app.jpg?itok=tDDHZ1pq" title="Glen Waverley and Moorabbin's sprawling South Road development" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Glen Waverley and Moorabbin's sprawling South Road development</figcaption></figure>With its permit issued mere days ago, the largest project on the agenda is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/projects/420-south-road-moorabbin">420 South Road, Moorabbin</a>.

<a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/peddle-thorp-architects">Peddle Thorp Architects</a> and <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/architects/rpc-architects">RPC Architects</a> have combined for the expansive project that sees hundreds of new apartments and a substantial serviced apartment building approved. As submitted the development consists of five buildings of up to 10 levels across a 20,000sqm site.

420 South Road, Moorabbin was at planning for 14 months prior to its permit being granted.
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