Wesley Mission Files BtR Plans for Canberra Site

Wesley Mission is planning a build-to-rent project in Canberra after stepping away from a scheme in inner Sydney—at least for now.

Plans have been filed for nearly 100 apartments across three buildings on a largely empty corner site opposite the Curtin Group Centre supermarket and Uniting Church at Curtin in the ACT.

AMC Architecture drew up the plans for the buildings of three to six storeys on the 5342sq m crown lease site in a community facility zone, west of Parliament House. 

The application proposes a change of permissible uses for the site, from church and related buildings, to allow greater housing options in the area.

That includes 83 community housing apartments as well as supported housing with 15 apartments for people living with mental illness and a caregiver’s unit. 

There are also 54 parking spaces and landscaping as part of the plans now on notification with the Territory Planning Authority. 

▲ A rendering of Wesley Mission’s build-to-rent proposal at Curtin.

While it seeks approval for its ACT plans, securing funding for a project in Sydney has proven elusive. 

It has abandoned plans to upgrade an empty apartment building in inner Sydney after missing out on the first round of the Housing Australia Future Fund announced late last year.

Planned were 39 apartments in the vacant RJ Williams Building at 274-276 Glebe Point Road. The project required re-scoping to meet updated building standards and rising construction costs.

The Glebe development was planned to help families struggling with the cost of living and had won $3 million in support from the City of Sydney in 2023.

▲ Wesley Mission’s plans to redevelop the vacant RJ Williams building in Glebe, inner Sydney.

“The inability to secure sufficient funding has unfortunately rendered Wesley Mission at this stage unable to proceed with the proposed development,” a spokesperson for the charity said.

“Wesley Mission has advised the City of Sydney that we will not be accessing the $3-million grant generously offered. 

“We will continue to explore options for the site to be developed in a way consistent with the existing development application, which stipulates the delivery of affordable housing.”

Meanwhile, Wesley Mission is nearing completion on the $11.7-million refurbishment of the Edward Eagar Centre at Surry Hills.

This building was prioritised as it provides emergency and transitional accommodation for people experiencing homelessness in inner Sydney, a role it has fulfilled since the 1970s.