Developer Resubmits Plans for Gold Coast Twin Towers

After sitting on the site for six years, Oxford Crown Group has re-submitted plans for a 48-storey residential tower in the heart of Southport.

The group spent $12 million acquiring the 5113sq m Gold Coast site on Scarborough Street, Southport in 2015, and initial plans had been shelved until now.

The site has been amalgamated into two lots, with plans to build mirror-image towers on the two blocks.

According to Urban Planning Services director Jason McGrath, who lodged the plans with the Gold Coast City Council on behalf of Oxford Crown Group, it is a resubmission of a development application that was previously approved, but that the approval lapsed in May, 2021.

“There are no changes to the approved plans, development statistics nor any façade elements of the previous approval,” McGrath said.

“It is our opinion that the proposed development represents a high-quality outcome that is appropriate to the subject site and one which warrants the approval of the council, subject to reasonable and relevant conditions.”

According to planning documents the original development application was filed in December, 2015.

The Sydney-based building and development firm, headed up by Robert Huang, has developed other residential towers in Sydney and Wollongong, but this is its first foray into the Gold Coast.

The group recently completed a mixed-use residential tower, Crownview Apartments, in Wollongong.

The DBI Architecture-designed tower for the Southport site, designed in 2015, would comprise a four-storey podium, five basement levels for parking, 279 apartments and 45 short-term accommodation units.

A pool and entertainment space as well as a gym will be incorporated on level 5 of the preliminary plans.

There are also provisions for commercial space, and food and beverage retail space, diagonally opposite the light rail station.

Southport was made a designated priority development area in 2014 and the proposed mixed-use residential tower is within the CBD precinct according to Urban Planning Services’ report to the the council.

“This highly articulated development will contribute to the enrichment of the visual experience of arrival along Queen Street, a highly trafficked road from which it will act as a gateway into the core precinct of Southport’s CBD,” the report said.

“This large lot amalgamation will see an iconic development unfold on what is considered to be a key opportunity for a ‘gateway development’.

“A unique element of this development is its proposed integration and complimentary aesthetics tying it into the adjoining amalgamated lots that are also proposed to be evolving into a scale more commensurate with the intent of precinct 1 of the PDA.

“While this adjoining development will almost mirror the proposed development, the two will act entirely independently of each other.”

The PDA includes the traditional Southport business centre, the former Gold Coast hospital site, Broadwater Parklands and the residential areas between Railway and Queen streets.

Oxford on Scarborough is near Australia Fair Shopping Centre and Southport Chinatown.

According to Oxford Crown Group, most of the apartments would have views to the Broadwater, ocean and city.

The Gold Coast City Council is due to make a decision on the proposed development in early January.