Developer Plots Four-Block Project for Ulladulla

Sydney developers are planning 250 apartments in a four-building project at the centre of a NSW coastal tourist town, saying housing affordability and availability are reaching “crisis” levels in the region.

The developers are asking Shoalhaven City Council to rezone a 1ha site at 131 St Vincent Street, Ulladulla, to allow four buildings of between three and nine storeys.

The developers—identified by online property monitor BCI Central as The Fleming Group and Olivander Capital—want the two lots zoned for MU1 Mixed Use, as well as a new maximum allowable height of 30 metres.

The site is zoned E4 General Industrial and is home to a Bunnings warehouse. Building height is restricted to 11 metres.

In documents exhibited on its website, Shoalhaven council said Bunnings would be “relocating to another site nearby”.

SMEC Holdings, the urban planning and engineering consultancy that lodged the rezoning application, said the planning proposal responded to a need for additional housing, affordable and key worker accommodation, and childcare services in the Shoalhaven area.

“The Shoalhaven local government authority is experiencing significant housing availability and affordability challenges as a result of increased population growth, increased rental princes compared to low incomes, and a lack of affordable housing for purchasers entering the market,” SMEC wrote.

▲ A render of the proposed four-building mixed-use development.

Australian-based SMEC, formerly Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation and now part of the Singapore government-owned consultancy Surbana Jurong Private Limited, said Shoalhaven council had identified an additional 3250 homes would be needed by 2051.

“The indicative development will provide 250 new residential apartments, including 60 affordable dwellings,” SMEC said.

About 50 of those affordable homes would be rented long-term via a community housing provider. The other 10 would be sold to the market at an affordable price for key workers and vulnerable community members.

Under the concept plans, which will be part of a separate development application, two buildings of 15m and 17m each would include residential units, key worker accommodation and a childcare centre with up to 120 places.

The other two buildings—27m and 30m high—will be used for shoptop housing and include 5750sq m of commercial space. Apartments will be a mix of one, two and three bedrooms.

“Commercial uses will be carefully curated to meet the needs of residents within the development and will likely comprise food and beverage premises and small commercial tenancies for local professional services businesses,” SMEC said.

Ulladulla, about 230km south of Sydney, is home to the biggest commercial fishing fleet on NSW’s south coast.

The concept plans are by Cox Architecture and the project has an estimated cost of construction of $120 million.

▲ The plans include public walk-ways between the mixed-use buildings.