Le Cornu site development on Anzac Highway attracts interest from local and interstate groups

A major housing develoment is planned for the former Le Cornu site on Anzac Highway – so who’s put their hand up to build it?

Local and interstate developers have made their pitch to develop the former Le Cornu site in Forestville, with Renewal SA hoping to select its chosen partner before the end of the year.

The state government’s development arm acquired the Anzac Highway site in October, later launching an expressions of interest (EOI) campaign to select its preferred development partner.

While Renewal SA would not comment on the level of interest in the site following the closure of EOI this week, local groups Starfish Developments and Catcorp both confirmed they had made submissions.

It is understood local developer Buildtec has also made a separate bid for the site, together with a number of other local and interstate developers.

Buildtec and Catcorp have partnered on the Norwood Green housing project at the former Caroma site on Magill Rd, while also undertaking a number of commercial and industrial projects across Adelaide.

Starfish Developments managing director Damon Nagel. Picture: Mark Bake

Starfish managing director Damon Nagel, who is currently overseeing the Hamilton Hill housing estate in Woodforde and Dock One project in Port Adelaide, said he was hopeful of securing the project.

“The site offers great connectivity – you’ve got Goodwood, the hospital, the showgrounds, you’re minutes from the city edge and you’re close to the beach – it ticks a lot of boxes,” he said.

“We’ll finish Hamilton Hill by the end of the year and so it sits really well for us. We’ve put a lot of time into the master-planning element and making sure the site is connected to the community.

“Obviously what we don’t want is another Le Cornu 2.0 – we don’t need that site to remain vacant, and we hope we’ve got a winning bid.”

A mix of apartments, townhouses, supermarket and other retail outlets, offices and other services are expected to be built at the 3.6ha site, which has remained vacant since the start of last year when German supermarket chain Kaufland abandoned plans to launch a network of stores across the country.

Early designs developed by Renewal SA suggest around 300 homes could be built at Forestville, with 15 per cent set aside for affordable housing.

Former Le Cornu site on Anzac Highway.

Urban Development Institute SA chief executive Pat Gerace said the site’s prominent location was likely to attract “extremely high” interest from local and interstate groups.

“The government were very clear about their desire for something special, and being so close to the city and in a blue-chip area the expectations will be high,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity for SA-based firms to demonstrate both their innovation and understanding of the local area to deliver a truly integrated development.”

A Renewal SA spokeswoman said she was unable to provide an update during the EOI process, but Renewal SA was “pleased with the high level of interest in the significant infill opportunity”.

Renewal SA development manager Katy Ellens with general manager Tony Cole at the former Le Cornu site. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“We look forward to commencing evaluation of submissions,” she said.

“Following evaluation and negotiation, it is hoped that Renewal SA will be in a position to enter into a development agreement, or similar, with the successful proponent before the end of the year.”

Property records reveal the State Government paid $38.2m for two former Kaufland sites in Adelaide last year – the Anzac Highway property and a second plot of land on Churchill Road in Prospect.

It followed Kaufland’s $25m acquisition of the Forestville site in 2017 and its $12.5m purchase of the Prospect land in 2019.