The Urban.com.au Project Database hits 1,200!

The Urban.com.au Project Database hits 1,200!
Mark BaljakJune 19, 2016

The Urban.com.au Project Database has reached 1,200 entries for the first time.

Now encompassing 1,200 current developments up to and including construction phase, the Project Database allows for an unparalleled glimpse into metropolitan Melbourne's ever changing face.

While many recent projects have left the database owing to their completion, a general upswing in application submissions (particularly for small and medium sized residential projects) has allowed the overall number to expand. With the CBD burdened by a plethora of large-scale apartment projects, much of the recent inner city planning activity has centred around fringe suburbs.

Fishermans Bend, South Melbourne and East Melbourne have seen projects added, with the latter seeing a return of 494-502 Albert Street. The Denton Corker Marshall-designed apartment/serviced apartment project re-enters planning albeit minus a few levels.

Elsewhere and the wraps are off another Fishermans Bend project as prolific developer Blue Earth Group looks to gain another footprint in the Urban Renewal Area. 245-251 Normanby Road is their latest project with the 41 level apartment tower looking to accommodate in excess of 500 dwellings.

The Urban.com.au Project Database hits 1,200!
245-251 Normanby Road tower is at planning

Commercial also features with two new substantial projects entered into the database. ISPT hope to secure approval for 269-271 Spring Street; the smaller sequel to Urban Workshop which was completed a decade ago.

Grocon is also seeking approval for a Collingwood office tower that would be sited above an existing Telstra exchange. At 13 levels the proposal is addressed 2-16 Northumberland Street would lead to a substantial influx of commercial space for Collingwood which has in recent years been almost exclusively the domain of new apartment developments.

John Wardle Architects are responsible for both designs with the Northumberland creation targeting a 6-star Green Star rating according to Grocon, in addition to contributing to the Homes for Homeless scheme via the project's future ongoing returns.

The Urban.com.au Project Database hits 1,200!
ISPT and Grocon have commercial gains in mind

New additions to the Project Database further confirms the surge of apartment projects into Melbourne's middle and outer ring suburbs. Fresh to City of Moonee Valley's planning department is Growland Group's residential pursuit at 343-349 Ascot Vale Road Moonee Ponds.

The substantial project is joined by other new entries in locations such as Ringwood, Preston, Carnegie, Footscray an St Albans.

Also noteworthy is a current application for 149 Hansworth Street Mulgrave with the Yellow Woods Architects-designed residential project of up to 10 levels and 167 dwellings poised to create a new height precedent for the area should it gain approval via City of Monash.

The Urban.com.au Project Database hits 1,200!
Growland's Moonee Ponds intent with Ripponlea and Mulgrave also present

New entries to the Project Database aside, a swag of projects have also seen their respective construction works kick off during the month of June.

Piling works are underway across a host of new projects throughout metropolitan Melbourne, ushering in a new wave of development. Approximately 15 projects have begun within the last calendar month; Noir South Yarra, Doncaster's Nest at the Hill, Evelyn Ringwood, Light Edge Richmond and 881 Armadale are but a few.

Another fresh starter is The International located on Southbank, seeing Hamilton Marino Builders team once more with developer Blue Earth Group. The 40 level CHT Architects-designed tower is the tallest of this month's crop to begin construction.

The Urban.com.au Project Database hits 1,200!
The International and Noir South Yarra are recent construction starters

Mark Baljak

Mark Baljak was a co-founder of Urban.com.au. He passed away on Thursday 8th of November 2018 after a battle with cancer. He was 37. Mark was a keen traveller, having visited all six permanently-inhabited continents and had a love of craft beer. One of his biggest passions was observing the change that has occurred in Melbourne over the past two decades. In that time he built an enormous library of photos, all taken by him, which tracked the progress of construction on building sites from across metropolitan Melbourne.

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