Changes to NSW housing policy have paved the way for Aland to expand its $125-million Western Sydney apartment project.
Aland is planning to increase the gross floor area at its Edmondson Park project by 30 per cent, with height amendments bringing buildings up to eight storeys.
The Edmondson Collection will sit on a 1.1ha site at 361-363 Bernera Road and 120 Passendale Road about 40km from the Sydney CBD.
Under the re-lodged plans, Buildings A and C will increase to four storeys, Building B to six and eight storeys.
The amendments will add 40 apartments, of which 27 will be affordable, bringing the total to 179 units.
The affordable units will be directed at essential workers including teachers, police officers, nurses and paramedics, under the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund.
ALAND Founder and Director Andrew Hrsto said the company had revised its plans for The Edmondson Collection because of the urgent need for affordable housing in Sydney.
The development was targeted at key workers, such as teachers, nurses and police officers.
“At ALAND, we're dedicated to creating inclusive communities for people to thrive,” Hrsto said.
“The Edmondson Collection shows our commitment to deliver superior, sustainable and cost-effective homes. This is a perfect example of affordable housing that does not compromise on quality and offers a contemporary, aspirational lifestyle.”
According to Aland, the Stanisic Architects-designed development will have 45 per cent of its area dedicated to communal open spaces.
Approvals were secured originally for the address at Edmondson Park for 137 apartments across three buildings by the Joint Regional Planning Panel in 2022.
But last December, the NSW Government amended its State Environmental Planning Policy (Housing) 2021 policies to trigger an increase in affordable housing.
It allows a floor space ratio (FSR) bonus if a minimum of 10 percept GFA is allocated for affordable housing, and a scalable height bonus for residential buildings and shoptop housing, which allows a 30 per cent increase in building height where 15 per cent of GFA is affordable housing.
Developers such as Landmark Group have already taken advantage of the changes.
The Edmondson Collection site is 500m from the Edmondson Park station, and forms part of the South West Growth Centre, and sits across the road from Aland’s Costello development, completed in 2021.
But Aland has been busy at work in Sydney more recently, and has just celebrated the topping out of its $357-million Parramatta development, Paramount on Parkes, which will deliver 331 luxury apartments, as well as lodging plans for 461 affordable infill apartments at Leppington.
Additionally, the developer was given the go-ahead for the second stage of its Gladstone Village development at Merrylands last week, a major component of its $800-million project, plans for which were filed last year.
Aland is negotiating to designate the entire 21-storey tower, consisting of 236 apartments, for affordable housing, also under the Federal Government’s Housing Australia Future Fund.