Sekisui House Australia's new masterplanned development, "The Orchards", has received DA approval for its first stage, which will comprise 121 apartments over two buildings.
Located 500 metres from the future Norwest Train Station, the approved first stage, "Imperial", will be followed by a subsequent six stages that will contribute 1,300 apartments.
Sekisui House Australia CEO and Managing Director Toru Abe said that the flexible design innovation that apartments at The Orchards will feature is in line with Sekisui House’s strong focus on designing homes that "can grow with you".
“Our research shows that one of the strongest elements appreciated by apartment owners is convenient location, followed by flexibility and space, including space saving options by way of storage,” Abe said.
The development, which is the site of the former Seventh Day Adventist Church, incorporate's the site’s heritage-listed trees, while each of The Orchard’s three signature buildings are being designed to reflect an element of the site’s natural surrounding environment, such as the native Bunya Pine, Strangers Creek and native Cumberland woodland trees.
Located at 47 Spurway Drive in Baulkham Hills, The Orchards will comprise one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments across seven residential towers.
Abe said The Orchards will offer residences in sizes that are rare to find in the current market.
“We believe that the spaciousness and adaptability of apartments at The Orchards will ensure they appeal to virtually every kind of buyer, even those working in the Sydney CBD, which is now a real possibility with Norwest Railway Station currently under construction just a five-minute walk away,” Abe said.
The development has already received strong interest from local downsizers considering an apartment move that will not compromise their space requirements but would remove the need for upkeep - both indoors and out - that standalone homes bring, as well as from professional couples and families with children that require space or the option to work from home.
For those working at Norwest Business Park, residents of The Orchards will have just a 250m walk to work, while those working in Sydney’s CBD will benefit from Norwest Railway Station, which is due for completion in 2019.
Set on a nature-filled site complete with a creek and cycle/walkways, The Orchards will also feature recreational amenities including a 1.4-hectare public park, playgrounds, breakout green spaces, as well as a lagoon pool and a two-storey gymnasium.
The Orchards will also provide a rooftop cinema, café and organic grocer planned for the development, as well as a community function centre and a music room.
The Hills Shire Council has forecast population growth for the district to rise to 252,302 by 2036, up from an estimated 168,731 in 2017.
The Hills also possesses a rapidly-growing economy, which in 2014 totalled $8.82 billion and accounted for over 56,000 jobs.
Designed by The Turner Studios and McGregor Coxall Landscape Architects, The Orchards is expected to launch sales in September 2017.
