Urban renewal project Playford Alive attracting massive interstate investment

One SA urban renewal project is tracking towards a 67 per cent interstate buyer rate for February. Find out where it is and why it’s such a hit to those from outside South Australia.

Interstate buyers are snapping up properties in Adelaide’s north in droves, attracted by the region’s affordability and liveability.

New data from Renewal SA shows interstate buyers accounted for almost one third of all January sales in Playford Alive – one of the largest urban renewal projects in Australia – and look set to make up more than two-thirds of February sales.

While Renewal SA would not disclose actual sales figures, it revealed 30 per cent of all January sales were from interstate, a huge jump from the previous January when there was none.

By June, 5 per cent of sales had come from interstate, and this number had increased to 20 per cent by December.

A Renewal SA Spokeswoman said February was “currently tracking at a whopping 67 per cent.”

Playford Alive is a 1000ha development 30km north of Adelaide and 8km from Gawler.

Rivergum’s display townhouse units at Playford Alive.

Connekt Project Sales Manager for Playford Alive, Michael Gallagher, said interstate investment in the project had increased since the pandemic hit – with high levels of the interest coming from first generation Australians.

“There is a common path where people arrive from overseas and first go to the eastern seaboard, but then house prices there make it very hard for them to lay down any meaningful roots,” Mr Gallagher said.

“They are buying sight unseen in places like Playford Alive because they are hungry for affordability.

“Covid has had a lot to do with it too, both with prices and sentiment.

“Adelaide has handled the Covid situation well from a safety aspect, and there are good job prospects.”

The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows Adelaide’s northern outskirts have the highest growth rates in South Australia.

Sukhdeep Kaur, and Aevin, Sandeep and Armin Singh outside their home in Munno Para, Playford Alive. Picture: Matt Loxton

Bus driver Sandeep Singh, 36, has lived with his family at Playford Alive for three years and has enjoyed it so much his brother-in-law Arsheed Singh – who lives in Canberra – has recently bought a home about 500m away to live in once it is built. Mr Singh is looking forward to welcoming others from interstate.

“I was living in Sydney and working as a chef but I couldn’t afford anything there, so I moved here,” Mr Singh said.

“It’s a great area and five of my friends are also moving across from Sydney to live in nearby Riverlea.

“The area is really developing quite quickly, and it will be great to see it enjoyed by people of all cultures.”