Stockland has announced its entry into Melbourne's apartment market with the acquisition of a 4,023 square metre apartment development site in Albert Street, Brunswick for $15 million.

Situated five kilometres from the Melbourne CBD with direct park frontage, the site is positioned in the heart of the inner city suburb with excellent transport connections, retail and local services.

Subject to planning approvals, the proposed design for the site includes approximately 150 apartments and townhomes, with many featuring city views, and ground-floor retail space.

Stockland Managing Director and CEO Mark Steinert said the purchase aligned with the company's strategy to build a meaningful apartments pipeline in areas with strong demand, close to transport and amenity.

“We have a clear strategy to leverage our capabilities and diversified business model to create assets to drive security holder returns, and this project extends our strong Communities brand into a deep, established market," he said.

The Albert Street site has proximity Melbourne’s coffee, culture and food scene, as well as parks, sports and recreation facilities, and transport including trams, trains, bike and walking paths all on the doorstep.

Source: Stockland 

Adjacent to Gilpin Park and opposite Clifton Park, the site is just one kilometre from RMIT University and forms part of the Albert Street Urban Renewal Precinct.

Stockland Communities CEO Andrew Whitson said the development of the site reflected a wider strategy to increasing built form residential projects such as townhomes and mid-high rise apartments in major capital cities with a focus on owner-occupiers.

“We’ve taken a disciplined approach to growing our apartments business, focusing on opportunities in locations with strong customer demand," he said.

“Brunswick is forecast to be undersupplied over the next five years and this project will help us deliver new homes in a desirable, inner-city location as Melbourne continues to grow.

"It will also broaden our customer reach in an established, growing market.

“We look forward to working with the Moreland City Council and the community on the next steps for this exciting project.”

The project is forecast to contribute operating profit from FY23, with projected total returns above our hurdle rates.

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