Melbourne apartment investor demand has stopped, not just slowed: Tim Gurner

Property developer Tim Gurner says demand from investors has "stopped, not just slowed."

He told The Australian Financial Review that a drop off in Chinese off-the-plan investors would reduce supply of new apartments - and mean that prices and rents would go up.

"We need 16,000 new apartments a year in Melbourne and this will be the first year we meet that target. But we'll only get 5000 next year," he said.

With demand from investors having stopped, following the recent removal of off-the-plan stamp duty concessions, Mr Gurner said he was happy to be now developing apartments for local owner occupiers at the high end of the market.

He said downsizers had been the most significant demographic shift into the new apartment market that he had seen as a developer in recent times.

He has a $65 million Toorak development.

Prices in Mr Gurner's six-level Hawksburn Village project will start from $1.1 million for a two-bedroom apartment rising to more than $3 million for a three-bedder and over $10 million for the biggest 400 square metre-plus top floor penthouse. 

The project at 162-164 Williams Road, which recently received planning approval, is being developed in partnership with landowners the Smorgons whose Escor Group occupy premises on the site.

There will be 22 apartments plus ground floor commercial space to be occupied by Escor Group alongside an upmarket wine bar.