SPEC Property return to their roots atop Doncaster Hill
18 months after securing a prime development site atop Doncaster Hill, SPEC Property is on the verge of receiving approval for their latest residential project within Manningham.
While they have diversified to become a citywide development presence, Spec Property has been particularly strong within Doncaster in years gone by; Acacia Apartments, Viridian, Canvas Apartments and Madison are among the developer's work in the area to date. 9-11 Williamsons Road also represents a change in tact with Bruce Henderson Architects coming aboard for the project which is poised to add 137 additional apartments to Doncaster Hill.
Touted by agent Savills as the area's best development site at the time of sale, Spec Property took a development concept to Council soon after, with the design process playing out to the point where a notice of decision to grant a permit was recently issued.
While also marking the developer's return to its early stomping ground, 9-11 Williamsons Road further adds to the expanding array of developers across Doncaster and the secondary yet growing apartment market within Doncaster East.
9-11 Williamsons Road application summary
- Site offered for sale during early 2015
- Current lowrise commercial complex over a 2,662sqm site
- Proposed 12 level building with an overall maximum height of 34.7m
- 137 apartments: 15 x 1 bedroom, 106 x 2 bedroom, 16 x 3 bedroom
- 7 townhouses to secondary street frontage
- 1 retail space: 130sqm to Williamsons Road
- 4 basement levels holding 171 vehicles
- Estimated project cost: $38 million
With unimpeded CBD views to the west, 9-11 Williamsons Road is configured in a U-shape to allow a maximum number of apartments a CBD view. A Carnarvon Street ground level communal garden links with internal amenities and will account for the void between either wing of the building.
Internally the project sees apartments vary in size from 48sqm to 105sqm, although four larger 3 bedroom penthouses will sit within the 120-132sqm zone. These penthouses are within a visually different design element atop the building and also hold expansive courtyards of up to 94sqm.
A wider view of apartment projects across Doncaster and Doncaster East sees a healthy sector that for lack of a better term, continues to do what it's been doing for some years now.
13 apartment projects of note are under construction according to the Urban.com.au Project Database, with 832 Doncaster Road the next in line; May Constructions are the anointed builder. All in all, 900 plus apartments and 224 aged care apartments/beds are at construction across the two suburbs.
If Spec Property choose to launch 9-11 Williamsons Road in the near term, they will join the like of Pace Development Group and Jinshan who have released their latest projects for public purchase.
Some hefty projects are also waiting in the wings, with approval for four separate schemes atop Doncaster Hill capable of yielding an additional 893 apartments.
