BHC Rethinks Former Warson Townhouse Plans at Prahran

Developer BHC Property has applied to amend plans for a townhouse project at Prahran in Melbourne, after taking over the development of the site from well-known developer Len Warson.

BHC’s plans for the 812sq m site at 66 Williams Road comprise six two- and three-storey townhouses.

An application to amend the existing permit was filed with the City of Stonnington late last year.

The Ascui and Co Architects-designed plans show six townhouses set back from the road by a boundary wall that matches the side facade of the townhouses, creating separation and privacy.

A permit was first applied for several townhouses in May 2018 with Warson’s Glenvill Homes as the developer and Helen Elizabeth Dunn listed as the owner on title records at the time.

This was revised in July 2021 after an amendment to reduce the number of townhouses to eight was filed in October 2020 and advertised in early 2021. At this point Glenvill Homes was still the developer.

A determination was made to approve the plans in September 2021 with a final decision provided in October 2021.

▲ A render of a previous design for the townhouse project in 2021.

However, in December 2022, an amendment was lodged and the applicant was listed as JY Prahran Pty Ltd.

Title deeds filed with the recent application showed that four of the seven shares in the property were owned by 80 Mitchell Parade Developments Pty Ltd, while the other three shares were owned by Carly Felicia Warson, Ellie Lauren Warson and Brooke Heidi Warson. ASIC records confirmed that Len Warson was the director of 80 Mitchell Parade Developments Pty Ltd.

When contacted for comment, Glenvill Homes told The Urban Developer that Len Warson no longer owned the site.

Corelogic records show that the site was sold in August 2022 for $3.6 million and settled in March 2023 after the application was filed.

BHC’s project director Charles Luo told The Urban Developer that they had purchased the site and would be developing it.

“The site was acquired mid 2022 with plans and permit for eight townhouses,” Luo said. 

In 2018, the estimated construction cost for the project was $3 million.

Luo said that the current development cost for the project was $8 million and the expected end value was $11 million.

He also said that it was a deliberate decision to reduce the number of townhouses in the project.

“We have reduced the number of homes from eight townhouses to six,” Luo said.

“After careful consideration, and taking into account feedback from the community and potential buyers, our team made that decision.

“With fewer townhouses, we are able to provide more space and privacy for each residence, allowing residents to truly feel at home.”

▲ BHC Property’s most recent project is the GlenHolm collection of townhouses in Glen Iris.

BHC Property has a portfolio of similar projects including Glenholm, a set of large-scale townhouses in Glen Iris, Lawson in Hawthorn East, Eastbridge in Kew East and The Davis in Camberwell.

“GlenHolm at 1795 Malvern Road in Glen Iris, is 12 high-end large-scale townhouses that have been designed to meet the needs and preferences of the community,” Luo said.

BHC Property also has a new project, designed by Paul Conrad, called Mercer in Armadale with eight luxury townhouses, each featuring a private basement garage, private lift and a rooftop terrace. Some will also have wine cellars.