Traders in Purple Take Up Western Sydney Masterplan

Property developer and construction group Traders in Purple is poised to start work on the latest stage of a $855-million, 3000-home masterplan after getting the nod for the project from the NSW government.

Landcom had previously done much of the work on the Bonnyrigg Estate, but the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) put the latest part of the project out to tender.

Traders in Purple will deliver Stages 8 to 11 of the Bonnyrigg Renewal, dubbed the Humphries Precinct. Bonnyrigg is 36kmwest of the Sydney CBD.

“The idea behind the renewal is that there was a social housing estate on the site which was at the end of its life in terms of habitability,” Traders in Purple director and co-owner Charlie Daoud said.

“The maintenance costs were far too high and because they were built so long ago they were no longer fit for purpose, especially for those aging in place and those with mobility issues. 
 
“There were lots of fibro homes, standard three-bed, one-bath on large parcels of land, so the government back then decided they would do a major renewal, going from about 833 homes to 3000 homes in the estate.” 

The scope of Bonnyrigg Renewal has  grown since its inception and 702 homes, including 256 social homes, in the state-significant renewal project have already been completed.

Traders in Purple will begin works in April to deliver 275 more homes including 65 homes for social housing.

▲ Landcom delivered a community centre and apartments as part of its contribution to the Bonnyrigg Estate.

For the most part, the government has been in partnership with state-owned developer Landcom, but upon reaching the end of their agreement it went out to tender.

This will be the is the fifth project Traders In Purple has secured with LAHC. 

It has so far delivered 819 apartments, homes and land lots across NSW with a combined value of $590 million for the corporation.

“Working with LAHC has been fantastic because they set the parameters and what they would like to achieve, and it’s up to us to use our development expertise and financial modelling to deliver it for them,” Daoud said. 

“Landcom has done a great job to date and its important to note that as part of our process we will continue with their wonderful community engagement.” 

▲ Bonnyrigg Estate’s $7-million 841sq m community centre at the heart of the project.

Social housing is an important element of the build, he said, and across the whole estate there will be a mix of 30 per cent social housing and 70 per cent private housing.

“Sixty-five social housing homes in the new precinct will be peppered through the project, so they will be designed and built the same as any other homes, with the aim of encouraging greater integration,” Daoud said. 

As part of the earlier stages of the renewal project, Landcom completed a $7-million, 841sq m community centre using funds from LAHC under its voluntary planning agreement with the Fairfield City Council. 

The NSW Land and Housing Corporation secured $26.4 million of Commonwealth funding through the national Housing Infrastructure fund, according to LAHC chief executive Simon Newport.

“When all levels of government, community housing providers and industry come to the table with a shared vision to deliver more and better homes for the people who need it most, we can achieve great things and the transformation under way at Bonnyrigg is a shining example of that,” Newport said.