Bathla Plots Shoptop Project on Central Coast

Prolific developer Bathla Group has submitted updated plans for a shoptop housing development in a Central Coast community. 

Universal Property Group Pty Ltd, trading as Bathla Group, has submitted updated plans for the address at 5-8 Beach Parade, Canton Beach, 112km north of Sydney.

The proposal for the five-storey development were initially submitted in 2017 and granted deferred commencement consent which was made operational in 2018. 

The current updated planning application comprises 40 apartments with 28  two and 13 three-bedroom apartments. Initial plans were for 36 apartments.

The 3227sq m site is surrounded by low density residential development, and developers say that “if developed to a high standard the site can become a visual reference point and the seed of a positive change” for the area. 

The site is currently abandoned with a single burned-down house.

The developers say the site has the potential to be an “urban anchor point” for the area, and would be visible from the western side of Tuggerah Lake. 

According to developers, the site has been classified as “iconic” by the Wyong Shire Council because of its location. It is currently zoned as SP3 Tourist. 

▲ Central Coast towns have seen an influx of people following seachange and treechange pandemic trends.

Team2 Architects designed the building, which it said would be larger than anything in the vicinity, but the developer said that it should be looked at “in the context of a desired future character”.  

While Bathla has focused on Sydney in th past, with a four-tower precinct added to its Western Sydney pipeline earlier this year, the developer has turned its attention to the Central Coast recently, and also has plans in the works for a 400-apartment masterplan at The Entrance. 

Following the seachange trends during Covid, populations in sought-after locations such as the Central Coast are predicted to continue to grow as developers look outside urban hotspots for growth.

Currently, the Central Coast NSW population forecast for 2023 is 358,113, and is expected to grow to 415,355 by 2036.