Football Park transformation fast-tracked by developer Commercial & General

In less than six years, Football Park has been developed into a bustling neighbourhood for more than 600 residents. Get a bird’s eye view of the transformation.

One of Adelaide’s largest housing developments at the former Football Park site in West Lakes is years ahead of schedule following a surge in sales.

The $1 billion project, known as WEST, was launched in 2015 and was initially expected to take 15 years to complete.

However with the newest residents moving into The Grange apartments on Troubridge Drive this week, more than 600 people already call the precinct home.

With the surge in demand from buyers boosted by the Federal Government’s HomeBuilder stimulus, developer Commercial & General now expects the development to be completed by 2027, three years earlier than initially forecast.

Commercial & General executive chairman Jamie McClurg said HomeBuilder alone had delivered around 70 sales at the development over the past 12 months, and the project was now “several years ahead of where we had planned to be”.

“It’s (HomeBuilder) been a fantastic initiative, providing many buyers with the additional confidence they needed to take the plunge,” he said.

“The fact that we are well ahead speaks to the quality buyers are seeing in the product. For example, our apartments have been carefully designed with quality fixtures, premium appliances, fully ducted airconditioning and large balconies – this is a real point of difference at WEST.”

Chris and Craig Moore who have recently bought a block of land at the WEST development. Picture: Tom Huntley

The 23.5ha WEST development will eventually become home to around 3500 people across 1300 apartments, townhouses and traditional homes, and will include a retail hub and open spaces.

The City of Charles Sturt’s community hub and a medical and commercial precinct will open late this year, with tenants already secured for 85 per cent of the available space.

An additional 42 apartments in the four-storey Ocea building on Charles Street – WEST’s “high street precinct” – will be completed late this year after selling out prior to construction commencing.

Mr McClurg said a mix of first home buyers, families and retirees had bought into the WEST development, with many relocating from the local area.

“The location is proving very important – the proximity to beaches, retail and public transport,” he said.

“A lot of the buyers have lived in the area for a long time and want to stay close to their community.”

The latest release at WEST, known as The Nineteenth, offers a range of two, three and four-bedroom luxury home and land packages overlooking Grange Golf Club.

More than a third of around 24 homes offered in the first release are already sold, and are priced from $708,000 to $1.18m.

West Lakes residents Chris and Craig Moore will relocate to WEST after recently snapping up a block of land in The Nineteenth release.

“It’s going to meet our needs perfectly,” Chris said.

“We will be downsizing but still retaining plenty of open space and a leafy green outlook. We love the West Lakes lifestyle, and WEST represents the best of it.”

Brebner Drive will soon be closed as part of The Nineteenth development to create a linear park in front of the new homes.