New 18-storey tower proposal behind Cumberland Arms Hotel
An 18-storey tower with 80 build-to-rent apartments could soon be constructed behind the state heritage listed Cumberland Arms Hotel on Waymouth Street. See the images
The State Commission Assessment Panel (SCAP) will on Friday assess plans lodged by Sydney-based property developers Greaton for a 56.5-metre-high apartment tower on a vacant western CBD site.
The proposal includes 80 build-to-rent apartments, including 22 one-bedroom dwellings and 58 two-bedroom.
The development site is roughly 659 square metres in size and faces Elizabeth Street, a side road running between Franklin and Waymouth Street.
A render of the 18-storey tower behind the Cumberland Arms Hotel. Image: Brown Falconer
The state heritage listed Cumberland Arms Hotel – built in 1883 and affectionately known as “The Cumby” – is located on the corner of Elizabeth and Waymouth Street around eight metres north of the development site.
No demolition work to the Cumberland Arms is proposed and a two-storey home already sits between the development site and the heritage pub.
A view of the 18-storey development on Elizabeth Street with the Cumberland Arms Hotel on the left. Image: Brown Falconer
Government Architect Kirsteen Mackay, who was asked to comment on the development, said a proposed five-level podium in the tower “provides a convincing built form relationship” with the pub.
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Mackay supported the development along with government planning officer Maria Klimenchuk, who has recommend the SCAP grant the project planning consent.
“The proposed building facilitates high density residential development that is considered to provide an appropriate design response in the context of the surrounding locality,” Klimenchuk wrote in her report to the SCAP published this week.
“The project delivers affordable housing dwellings to low-and medium-level income households aiming to reduce housing stress in South Australia.”
The vacant space where the development is slated for construction. Photo: Tony Lewis/InDaily
Greaton’s build-to-rent proposal is a revision of an earlier plan for a 17-storey, 300-bed student accommodation tower.
The SCAP granted this project planning approval in August 2019, but no work commenced on the site.
According to planning documents, the developer has since secured a funding agreement with the federal government’s Housing Australia Future Fund for a build-to-rent housing project.
Build-to-rent is a model whereby all dwellings in an apartment complex are managed by a single operator rather than separate investors and owners.
National community housing provider BlueCHP, a not-for-profit charity, will manage the Elizabeth Street tower when completed. Four disability-friendly apartments are also proposed as part of the development.
Apartment sizes range from 50 square metres for the one-bedroom apartments and 66 to 70 square metres for the two-bedrooms.
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A one-bedroom floor plan proposed in the development.
A two-bedroom floor plan proposed in the development.
Greaton’s development also represents the third and final stage of its West Franklin Precinct redevelopment.
The first stage – an 18-storey hotel and 20-storey apartment tower on the corner of Franklin and Elizabeth Street – was completed in 2019, but the second stage – a 16-storey hotel and apartment project known as “Balfours Square” on Franklin Street – is yet to begin construction.
The West Franklin development precinct with the 18-storey proposal located at the top in green. Image: supplied
The development site behind the Cumberland Arms Hotel is zoned for 43-metres, but this has been lifted to 55.9 metres under a 30 per cent affordable housing incentive included in the planning code.
The proposed 56.5-metre building is still marginally (0.55 metres) above the maximum height. The Government Architect supported the proposed height, noting its “direct adjacency to the larger Stage 1 development” of the West Franklin Precinct.
Seven shared car parks and eight bicycle parks are proposed in the development. The Capital City Zoning which applies to the site does not prescribe minimum requirements for off-street parking due to the CBD’s proximity to public transport services.
A view of the development from Elizabeth Street. Image: Brown Falconer
Greaton’s proposal is the latest in a series of build-to-rent projects lodged across Adelaide, with the model becoming more popular among developers amid a state and federal policy shift to encourage this form of housing.
A 50 per cent land tax discount for eligible build-to-rent projects was also announced in June as part of the state government’s Housing Roadmap.
In March, the state’s first build-to-rent project – a 240-apartment, 13-storey complex in Bowden – received planning approval. US real estate giant Sentinel is delivering the project.
In August, community housing provider Housing Choices SA won planning approval to build 152-rental homes in Eastwood, next to the Air Apartments, with 122 apartments to be rented out at affordable rates. The homes are spread across a seven and five-storey building at 217-218 Greenhill Road.
Build-to-rent is also set to feature as part of the state government-led redevelopment of the former Franklin Street bus station.
The Australian Education Union (AEU) SA branch lodged plans last year to redevelop its headquarters at 163A-164 Greenhill Road into twin 9- and 11-storey towers holding 232 build-to-rent apartments.