Blackburn

First home buyers seeking the suburban comfort of Melbourne&rsquo;s east and strong neighbourhood amenities are embracing the newest townhouse development in Blackburn, Ascend.

Framed by Blackburn&rsquo;s leafy streets, Ascend presents a boutique collection of two, three and four-bedroom townhomes close to abundant lifestyle amenities.

The development makes the most of urban life and natural charm, embracing natural bushland and lakeside views of the nearby Blackburn Lake Sanctuary.

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Local residents are encouraged to take advantage of these neighbourhood offerings, including the various walking trails that wind through the nearby Blacks Walk Reserve and Gardiners Creek.

Box Hill Gardens sits just five minutes from the property, where families can enjoy a picnic or barbeque under shady trees, explore playgrounds and utilise the outdoor sports courts and running tracks.

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Box Hill and Wattle Park Golf Clubs are located within close proximity to Ascend, primed for a relaxing game of golf, while nearby gyms bring fitness classes and wellness close to home.

The project is also primed to benefit from convenient transport options, major shopping centres and dining and recreational opportunities on offer.

Melbourne CBD is a simple 30-minute commute away via the M3, with train services from Blackburn station and local buses connecting residents to surrounding suburbs. &nbsp;

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Accessible shopping options include Laburnum Village, Box Hill Centrum and the eateries that dot South Parade.

According to SQM Research, Blackburn has seen home values grow 6.9 per cent per annum over the past 10 years, stronger than the Melbourne average of 5.6 per cent.

The suburb sits within the highly desired Box Hill school zone, which includes one of Melbourne&rsquo;s most prized public schools, Box Hill High School, and others including Our Lady of Sion College, Blackburn and Laburnum Primary Schools.

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Deakin University&rsquo;s nearby Burwood campus is also close by, while Monash University is just a 20-minute drive away.

Carefully considered living spaces exude an immediate sense of belonging thanks to white walls and warm-toned flooring.

Spacious open-plan living and dining areas flow through to large balconies, completing the full indoor-outdoor experience and the ideal space for casual living or entertaining.

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Designed by Jesse Ant Architects, the project features high-quality finishes, charming cabinetry, stone benchtops and a sleek splashback.

Stunning minimalism delivers contemporary elegance to townhomes, with soft grey flooring, chrome tapware and a lustrous central island bench providing a casual extension of the formal dining area.

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Framed by Blackburn’s leafy streets, Ascend presents a boutique collection of two, three and four-bedroom townhomes close to abundant lifestyle amenities

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An address in the heart of abundant Blackburn amenity: Why first home buyers love Ascend

The latest apartment project by the award-winning developer,&nbsp;Pace Development Group,&nbsp;is set to invigorate a prominent corner site in&nbsp;Blackburn in Melbourne&#39;s east.

Designed in collaboration between Ascui and Co. Architects, interior designer Adele Bates and MDG Landscape Architects, Pace of Blackburn will see four buildings of modern apartments rise from Whitehorse Road, ideally located in close proximity to both transport and surrounding greenery.

There will be street-level retail at the foot of the development, as well as extensive resident amenity.

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Priced from $395,000, Urban has had a look at the development in more detail, and highlighted its key features.

1. Location

The corner site fronting Whi​tehorse Road and Railway Road puts residents in the heart of Blackburn, within walking distance to local amenity and extensive transport links connecting to the city.

Pace of Blackburn is just&nbsp;25 minutes to the CBD with frequent trains and buses. The bus routes 271 and 279 run near the development, and Blackburn train station is just a 10-minute walk.

There&#39;s nearby medical services and health and fitness centres. Investors are likely to see a decent uptake from students, with the development located just five kilometres from Deakin University. There are three other universities within an 11 kilometre radius.

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Pace of Blackburn does not only boast its own landscaped gardens and indoor pool but is close to one of Melbourne&rsquo;s largest pockets of greenery, Blackburn Lake Sanctuary.

Local residents can cycle or walk the network of trails that wind through 30-hectares of natural bushland and enjoy the peace that comes from sharing the space with local wildlife.

2. Amenity

Residents at Pace of Blackburn will share a large resort-style pool area, with an 18 metre lap pool and a children&#39;s splash pool set in extensive landscaping.

There will be a&nbsp;concierge service, with cold room storage for the safe keeping of groceries.

Residents can book a meeting space, a private dining room with a full chefs kitchen. There&#39;s also a library with a fireplace.

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3. Convenience

Residents will have access to multiple retail spaces on ground level.

A prominent supermarket chain will feature as the flagship tenant within the precinct, with other retailers to include cafes, restaurants, beauty boutiques and specialty stores, providing the residents and Blackburn locals with an inner-city style of living.

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4. The Design

The trio of well regarded architects and designers, Ascui and Co. Architects, interior designer Adele Bates and MDG Landscape Architects, have come together to design every feature down to every detail.

The exterior architecture by Ascui &amp; Co. complements the leafy streetscape of Blackburn, with views framed by oversized windows and an external fa&ccedil;ade that features warm earthy tones alongside lush landscaping to complete the scene.

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5. The Developer

Pace is one of the most respected developers in the business, having delivered over 100&nbsp;projects over the last 19 years.

The team won&nbsp;the Master Builders Victoria award for Excellence in Construction - Highrise Buildings 2020 for their Abbotsford development, Pace of Abbotsford.

It was&nbsp;Pace&#39;s second consecutive win of the award, having won it in 2019 for their Collingwood project Pace of Collingwood, their 100th project.

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Urban takes a look at five reasons you should consider a home at the new development by Pace Development Group

Five reasons why Pace of Blackburn apartments should be on a buyer's shortlist

Pace of Blackburn is the newest residential offering in Melbourne&rsquo;s premier suburb of Blackburn, boasting an exclusive collection of 289&nbsp;residences.

Developed by Pace Development Group, the one, two and three-bedroom residences lie within four distinct buildings&nbsp;on Whiteho​rse Road, welcoming and considered.

Designed by Ascui and Co. Architects and MDG Landscape Architects, the building&rsquo;s exteriors boast a seamless glazed fa&ccedil;ade with vertical fin elements and horizontal banding.

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The apartments are designed with&nbsp;clean lines and subtle curves that complement its surroundings, punctuated by greenery and clever balcony designs.

Uniquely positioned, apartments at Pace of Blackburn offer views over the Dandenong Ranges to the east and views of the&nbsp;city&nbsp;to the west.

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The interiors are designed by Adele Bates, featuring striking bronze accents, artistic herringbone tiling, marble and mirrors.

A grand lobby is kitted out with a concierge that will collect your deliveries and store your groceries in its cool room, and a communal meeting room that serves as an extension of your home and office.

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The development provides a new level of lifestyle with considered shared facilities. The four towers meet on a centralised podium that is home to a lap pool set amongst landscaped gardens.

&ldquo;Flanked by a wide sundeck and outdoor dining facilities, residents have room for parties or larger dinners with family and friends&rdquo;, Pace advise.

Pace of Blackburn also includes a communal lounge for entertaining, designed for lingering, with a gas fireplace, cosy nooks for reading or catching up over a coffee.

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Among its other features include a private dining room, secure basement parking and storage cages.

The development is expected to reach completion in late 2022.

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Developed by Pace Development Group, the one, two and three-bedroom residences lie within four distinct towers on Whitehorse Road, welcoming and considered

Apartments designed for entertaining: Introducing the new Blackburn apartment development, Pace of Blackburn

Pace of Blackburn, a new project delivered by Pace Development Group, offers a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments in a great location.

Blackburn is one of Melbourne&rsquo;s premier suburbs, delivering a selection of green spaces, caf&eacute;s and retail offerings.

Situated on Whiteho​rse Road, residents at Pace of Blackburn enjoy convenience and privacy with landscaping by MDG Landscape Architects that blend in with the leafy surrounds.

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Buyers can take comfort knowing a talented team of architects have designed their homes, boasting the design elements of Ascui and Co. Architects and interior designer Adele Bates.

Adele Bates is a multi-disciplinary practice with an extensive portfolio of residential, multi-residential, hospitality, retail and commercial projects.

Each project represents the synthesis of aesthetic sensibility and practical objectives, considering everything from space planning to the most intimate of bespoke details.

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Style, durability and heightened amenity come together at Pace of Blackburn.

&ldquo;Whether you prefer a palette that&rsquo;s light and bright or dark and moody you can be certain that our living areas are designed for exactly that &ndash; living&rdquo;, Pace Development Group says.

Each residence across the four distinct towers that form the development boast generous floorplans, flooded with natural light through balcony doors and large floor-to-ceiling windows.

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The home is uniquely positioned to enjoy views across all corners of Melbourne, with the Dandenong Ranges to the east and the sparkling city lights to the west.

Premium kitchens strike a balance between form and function, with Asko appliances, stone benchtops, custom joinery and a statement pendant light.

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The two colour schemes offer a choice between navy cabinetry with grey stone benchtops or a light and spacious feel with a contemporary edge.

In the bathroom, sleek fittings are complemented by a suspended vanity and round washbasin to create a clean and balanced space, while bedrooms offer soft carpet, soothing colours and blackout blinds.

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The development provides a new level of lifestyle with considered shared facilities, including an 18-metre indoor pool, a centralised podium with landscaped gardens and a communal meeting room.

Other features include a separate children&rsquo;s pool, shared dining facilities, secure lobby and secure basement parking.

&nbsp;

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Buyers can take comfort knowing a talented team of architects have designed their homes, boasting the design elements of Ascui and Co. Architects and interior designer Adele Bates

Design details: The interior decisions by Adele Bates at Melbourne’s Pace of Blackburn apartment development

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A 2017 built Blackburn, Victoria house has sold for $1.18 million under the mortgagee auction hammer.
The vendors previously listed the property in 2017 seeking $1.55 million but were unable to find a buyer at that price and took the home off the market.
Rupa and Patrick Mane of Raine&amp;Horne marketed the property.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-blackburn-131626434" target="_blank">1/7 Langtree Court</a>, the two level abode contains four bedrooms and three bathrooms.
Set on 350 sqm, the house features two kind sized bedrooms, timber flooring and fully landscaped gardens on both sides of the home.
Located in a quiet cul-de-sac, it is only a short walk to Blackburn North Shopping Centre and Whitehorse's Golden mile shopping strip and within a 5 minutes' drive to the Eastern Freeway or Blackburn Railway station among other amenities.
Last sold in 2015 the home previously residing on the holding sold for $1.36 million, $180,000 more than what it sold for in August 2019.
Before that the home sold for $1.153 million in 2014.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for an apartment in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/10453-blackburn-vic" target="_blank">Blackburn</a> is $1.17 million according to CoreLogic data.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Near new Blackburn, Victoria mortgagee home sold for $200,000 loss

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A mortgagee's Blackburn house has been sold after more than two years and two unsuccessful auctions.
Originally listed for $1.35 million - 1.485 million the four bedroom two bathroom home was passed in at an October 2017 auction.
The second unsuccessful auction took place in July 2018, the property had an price guide of $1.1 million - $1.2 million.
Situated at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-blackburn-130336706" target="_blank">2/7 Langtree Court</a>, the home sold at a February 23 auction for $1.16 million.
Set on 252 sqm, the one story house is near new with construction completed in 2017.
Patrick and Rupa Mane of Raine &amp; Horne Blackburn sold the property.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
The median price for a home in <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/10453-blackburn-vic" target="_blank">Blackburn</a> is $1.31 million according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 7.7%.
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Blackburn, Vic mortgagee home sold for $300,000 off original listing

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A two-level, four-bedroom 2017-built house in Blackburn, Victoria has been just sold for $1.16 million by the mortgagee in possession.
It was listed by Patrick Mane and Rupa Mane from Raine &amp; Horne Blackburn. 
It had $1.4 million hopes when listed in early 2018.
Positioned in a quiet cul-de-sac location, the house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-blackburn-130336706" target="_blank">2/7 Langtree Court</a> comes with two king sized bedrooms, other two additional bedrooms, large kitchen, formal dining room, large living room and fully-landscaped backyard.
Other features include video intercom, downstairs study, split system cooling/heating and a double garage.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank"><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/2019/1/Subscriber%20strip%20ad.jpg" alt=""></a>
It's only a short walk to Blackburn North Shopping Centre and Whitehorse's Golden mile shopping strip, and within 5 minutes drive to the Eastern Freeway or Blackburn Railway station.
The median price for a home in Blackburn is <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/expert-insights/investing/10453-blackburn-vic" target="_blank">$1.31 million </a>according to CoreLogic, which calculate its annual change in median price over the past 10 years as 7.7%.
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Blackburn house sold by mortgagee for $1.16 million

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Little to no media attention has been given to VCAT's decision to approve development plans for 160 Whitehorse Road.

Proponents behind the bid to redevelop Blackburn's premier development site into a staged mixed-use project were met with success at Victoria's planning tribunal late last month. As many as 263 apartments are now approved for the development designed by Taouk Architects which has been christened Blackburn Place.

The approval has also gone a long way to pushing Blackburn's apartment/townhouse pipeline toward 1,000 dwellings. From planning to construction, Urban.com.au's Project Database is keeping tabs on 970 plus dwellings, spread predominantly across a raft of smaller sized apartment developments.

Blackburn Place though is by far and away the suburb's largest development and could have been far larger.

<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/image79_8.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Blackburn Road perspective. Image: Taouk Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="265" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image79_8.jpg?itok=JwKt6UiG" title="Blackburn Road perspective. Image: Taouk Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Blackburn Road perspective. Image: Taouk Architects</figcaption></figure>Initial plans for the site attempted to realise a greater return of apartments, with buildings spanning 14, 10, 10 and 8 storeys originally submitted. Those plans have been tempered with the VCAT-approved outcome seeing 10, 9, 7 and 6 storeys given the nod, resulting in a sizeable reduction in overall apartment numbers from 394 to 263.

Apartments aside, Blackburn Place will also include a string of retail and commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas and basement parking.

Located within the Blackburn major activity centre, the application spans the largely vacant 8,767 square metre Lexus of Blackburn triangle site that maintains 295 metres of frontage to Whitehorse Road &amp; Railway Parade.

Having sold for $18 million to an Asian-backed developer three years ago, 160 Whitehorse Road's price history has seen steady growth. Previous campaigns saw the site sell for $11.36 million in 2010, $3.25 million in 1986 and $1.3 million in 1980.

<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/image80_4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sovereign and Trio under construction"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="308" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image80_4.jpg?itok=xdrMfxRw" title="Sovereign and Trio under construction" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sovereign and Trio under construction</figcaption></figure>Blackburn Place will crown an otherwise steady but relatively subdued Blackburn apartment market.

Smaller projects such as Sovereign and The Royale are at completion, whilst Trio is surfacing above ground; combined these projects stand to add 185 new apartments to the suburb. Furthermore Morton Park, Apollo, Blackburn Apartments and the townhouse aspect dubbed Regent which forms part of the wider 3 Whitehorse Road development are at registrations and/or sales, and stand to add a similar number of dwellings.

Thereafter the balance of projects within the Urban.com.au Project Database are smaller in stature and confined to the planning or approval stages of development.
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silvermb

160 Whitehorse Road's approval pushes Blackburn's apartment pipeline toward 1,000 

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Taouk Architects continue to refine a working design for Blackburn's 'Lexus' site. Newly released imagery of the mixed-use development for the substantial land holding at 160 Whitehorse Road now includes a heightened degree of complexity and design detail, and is similar to earlier concepts in showing multiple buildings rising to 14 levels.

The project which includes near on 400 apartments has however stumbled at its initial planning run.

Lodged with City of Whitehorse during April, Council has acted swiftly in refusing the application that would have seen 14, 10, 10 and 8 storey buildings set above three levels of basement parking. Delegate refusal was issued in under two months from its submission date.

In the rendered form below 160 Whitehorse Road would simultaneously have become Blackburn's tallest development and (by some margin) its largest development to date.

<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/image13_16.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Rendered concept for 160 Whitehorse Road. Image: Taouk Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="308" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image13_16.jpg?itok=sfqlWy3T" title="Rendered concept for 160 Whitehorse Road. Image: Taouk Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Rendered concept for 160 Whitehorse Road. Image: Taouk Architects</figcaption></figure>Former owner Lexus Australia chose to offload the site at the peak of Melbourne's development site sales boom during 2015. 

Billed as a Blackburn's premier site during its 2015 sales campaign, the largely vacant 8,767sqm block is zoned Commercial 1 and allows for residential, commercial and retail uses. 160 Whitehorse Road also maintains approximately 295m of frontage to Whitehorse Road &amp; Railway Parade.

Having sold for $18 million to an Asian-backed developer two years ago, 160 Whitehorse Road's <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/realestate/vacant-lexus-site-on-whitehorse-rd-sells-for-18-million/news-story/353bccaec4759d8ea0b71394177c1614">price history</a> has seen steady growth. Previous campaigns saw the site sell for $11.36 million in 2010, $3.25 million in 1986 and $1.3 million in 1980.

The possibility of towers appearing across the site would be a departure from the norm for Blackburn. Over recent years residential builds of 4-6 levels adjacent to Blackburn Station have become common place, while Apollo Blackburn directly opposite the 'Lexus' site is currently at sales with five levels the approved outcome.

Planning overlays for Blackburn and the adjoining Mega Mile have indicated that 160 Whitehorse Road is the area's 'gateway' site and as such can exceed the recommended height limit of 21 metres, reflecting its "status as a visually prominent landmark."

<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_11.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Scale and stageabilty. Image: CBRE City Sales"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="385" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image17_11.jpg?itok=ju2vbooK" title="Scale and stageabilty. Image: CBRE City Sales" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Scale and stageabilty. Image: CBRE City Sales</figcaption></figure>For its part, Taouk Architects describe their working design as follows:

<blockquote>
Located within the major activity centre, Blackburn Place comprises of 4 towers connected via shared ground areas comprising of retail and office spaces designed to flow with landscaped communal areas. Combined Blackburn Place provides 394 apartments through the various tower heights of the complex.
Utilising massing form and façade articulation, the design applies various elements to soften its presentation to each adjoining streetscapes.
Layered, projecting and interlocking architectural elements combine with a neutral palette of colours and materials to help make Blackburn Place a benchmark for future developments in the area.
<cite>Taouk Architects</cite>
</blockquote>

<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/image16_9.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Rendered concept for 160 Whitehorse Road. Image: Taouk Architects"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="319" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image16_9.jpg?itok=DKnUz1et" title="Rendered concept for 160 Whitehorse Road. Image: Taouk Architects" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Rendered concept for 160 Whitehorse Road. Image: Taouk Architects</figcaption></figure>The development team's next step in the approvals process has yet to play out at planning.
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Blackburn's 'Lexus' site edges closer to major development, but...

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One of the major changes to planning during the term of the last Victorian Government was the implementation of <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/planning-minister-approves-new-residential-zones-in-39-victorian-lgas">new residential and commercial zones</a> right throughout <a href="https://www.urban.com.au/news/planning-minister-approves-new-residential-zones-in-39-victorian-lgas">metropolitan and regional areas</a>.

The new planning zones were designed to provide clarity to the community and also to developers in order for them to make investment decisions with a clear understanding of what can be built on the sites they purchase.

One developer which is working away in the General Residential and Residential Growth Zones is <a href="http://www.samuel.com.au/">Samuel Property</a>.

To date Samuel Property have begun development of two projects: Vela in Blackburn and Lennox Glen Iris. Urban.com.au recently chatted with Illan Samuel who is head of the company and some interesting planning anecdotes came out of the conversation.

<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/lennox.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Lennox Glen Iris. © Samuel Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="337" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/lennox.jpg?itok=XRuU3Ah1" title="Lennox Glen Iris. © Samuel Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Lennox Glen Iris. © Samuel Property</figcaption></figure>Lennox, located at 25 Belmont Avenue North in Glen Iris, was initially targeted at the downsizer market and four weeks out from kicking off the marketing campaign for the project, a decision was made to switch direction and target young professionals.

All 20 apartments were sold in 4-5 weeks and it attracted “very much a hyper-local buyer pool - young people who were either renting or originally grew up in the area - and no offshore buyers” according to Samuel.

Illan Samuel told Urban.com.au that development sites in side streets right near main strips are preferred; buyers like being close to the action but not directly on the main drag as it were. Lennox in Glen Iris and Vela in Blackburn fit this bill.

Take this <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/194614/whitehorse02zn.pdf">map of zones</a> for the Blackburn area in Whitehorse, Vela Blackburn as seen in the render below is located at 4 Station Street, just off Whitehorse Road and right inside the <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/whitehorse/ordinance/32_07s03_whse.pdf">RGZ3</a> zone. Lennox in Glen Iris located at 25 Belmont Avenue North comes under <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/schemes/stonnington/ordinance/32_08s10_ston.pdf">GRZ10</a> according to <a href="http://planningschemes.dpcd.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/191743/stonnington06zn.pdf">Stonnington zone maps</a> for Glen Iris.

<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/apartments4.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Vela Blackburn. © Samuel Property"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="330" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/apartments4.jpg?itok=7vqlzmIm" title="Vela Blackburn. © Samuel Property" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Vela Blackburn. © Samuel Property</figcaption></figure>Vela in Blackburn, like Lennox in Glen Iris, has sold out of its 24 apartments and Illan told Urban.com.au the sales campaign drew in a lot of local buyers.

As is the custom when Urban.com.au asks developers about future plans, there was a lot of coyness, but Illan did tell us that a similar profile development - side street just off a main strip in RGZ or GRZ - is currently at planning in Glen Eira.

Vela in Blackburn is already under construction and Lennox Glen Iris is set to commence construction in October.

<h2>Comment</h2>

There is still, no doubt, scope to improve the planning zones further. For instance, encouraging (forcing?) councils to apply them to more areas in their LGA and experimenting with other "carrot or the stick" tools like density bonuses which might allow developers to build an extra level in exchange for affordable or social housing components in developments located in any General Residential or Residential Growth Zone.

Regardless, it is encouraging to see capital seek out these development opportunities and from early-adopter and entrepreneurial developers as well; as it is the little things, built in high volume, that are going to count over the long run if Melbourne is to reach the goal of diversifying its residential stock as we grow over the coming decades.

Lead image credit: Lennox Glen Iris location, <a href="http://www.lennoxgleniris.com.au/video">Samuel Property</a>.
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