A council depot and post office have been earmarked as the epicentre of Adelaide’s next development hotspot under plans that could inject hundreds of millions of dollars into the King William Road precinct.
The King William Road North Code Amendment would transform underutilised commercial land at Unley into a $300-million mixed-use precinct.
The rezoning proposal for the precinct, 3km south of Adelaide’s CBD, would allow developments delivering around 254 homes and retail space across a consolidated 15,000sq m site.
The proposal covers nine properties, between 71-75 and 81-85 King William Road and 86-90 Mary Street, including an Australia Post facility and Unley Council depot.
The consolidated site is about a fifth the area of the former Royal Adelaide Hospital site, making it one of the bigger urban infill opportunities in Adelaide’s inner-southern suburbs, according to concept documents.
The rezoning from business, employment and established neighbourhood zones to urban neighbourhood zoning would permit higher-density mixed-use development.
Concept plans show four buildings comprising 238 apartments and 16 elevated townhouses.
Tower 1 at the south-west corner would be 10 storeys, Tower 2 would be eight, Tower 3 six storeys and Tower 4 along the eastern boundary would be seven storeys.
The concept design by architectural firm Hames Sharley includes retail activation zones, pedestrian-focused areas and landscaping to improve accessibility and connectivity.
The development would incorporate 915sq m of retail space, including ground-level activation zones along Mary Street and outdoor dining at the King William Road corner.
King William Road Precinct Transformation spokesperson Matt Clemow said the development would deliver “hundreds of millions [of dollars] into the northern part of King William Road” while protecting the shopping strip by establishing height controls.
“Aggregating a parcel this size in a metro area allows for far superior outcomes than individual blocks one at a time,” Clemow said.
According to project documentation, the apartment mix would include one, two and three-bedroom units plus penthouse options across the four towers.
The design aims to maximise natural light access while minimising overshadowing on neighbouring properties.
Design features would include a public open space corridor connecting with Charles Walk, which would be transformed into a dedicated pedestrian and bicycle thoroughfare.
The proposal would retain significant trees and introduce new pedestrian pathways with street plantings to enhance community connectivity.
Vehicle access would be distributed across multiple entry points to minimise traffic impact, with basement parking for apartments and integrated parking for townhouses.
The development could house about 510 residents and generate around 900 construction and related jobs.
The proposal aligns with Greater Adelaide Regional Plan objectives for strategic infill development in inner-metropolitan areas.
According to the Strategic Planning Outcomes report, King William Road is designated as a State Significant Infill Area. Unley Council is targeting 126 new homes a year through to 2031.
The site is within an active development corridor. Recent completions in the neighbourhood include the 77-apartment Glenside Botanica and 63-apartment Hyde Park Place mixed-use project.
Approved developments nearby include 48 apartments at 42-46 Unley Road and 130 apartments at 170 Unley Road.
Investigations covering economic impact, affordable housing, heritage and site contamination are under way.
The Strategic Planning Outcomes document said the development would be subject to a 15 per cent affordable housing requirement under the Affordable Housing Overlay.
The code amendment proposal is undergoing a public consultation process through the PlanSA website, with an aim to establish development parameters for future applications rather than approve specific construction proposals.
Nearby, South Australian developer Otello Projects has unveiled plans for a seven-storey mixed-use project at 46 Unley Road, Unley, comprising 15 apartments and office space.
Otello Group director Daniel Harris said the development “would herald a new era of mid and higher-rise development for the area, which is typically low-density”.
Adelaide’s development activity has accelerated alongside its 2 per cent annual population growth, with the SA Government recently putting $2 billion worth of project sites on the market to attract further investment.
