Van Lieshout’s Unison Projects seeks DA for 42 terrace home project on Gold Coast

Super Amart founder John Van Lieshout has secured a large site fronting an exclusive Gold Coast golf course and is seeking approval for a terrace homes development.

Billionaire John Van Lieshout has secured a large golf course-fronting residential development site in an exclusive community in the northern Gold Coast and is seeking approval for a terrace homes development.

His company Unison Projects paid $5.5825m for a 9212sq m site at Lot 102 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hope Island, which had previously been approved for 89 apartments configured across a seven-storey built form.

However, the Super Amart furniture store chain founder now aims to meet market demand for good-quality, affordable and diverse housing by repurposing the site for 42 four-bedroom terrace homes, subject to council approval.

An artist's impression of the pool area in the Unison Projects Hope Island's terrace homes development.

JLL Metropolitan & Regional Land Senior Executives Liam Petersen and Jake Burrowes secured the off-market deal with Unison.

Unison now have a South East Queensland pipeline of well over 430 apartments and townhouses with an end value in excess of $450m.

That includes an 18-levels apartment tower in Mollison St, South Brisbane, a boutique 38-apartment development in Herston and a 41-apartment project in the old Newstead Federal Boot Factory.

Unison this week lodged its Code Assessable Application with Gold Coast City Council for its Hope Island development.

The application features the work of Gold Coast architecture firm BDA, which designed the 42 terrace homes to evoke a bespoke coastal character.

“The dwellings were designed to provide a range of home types and facade treatments that provide a cohesive design yet form an individual character within the private enclave,” a BDA spokesman said.

The Hope Island project includes a main communal open space includes a pool, spa, sauna, lounge/dining areas, fire pit, seating nook and outdoor lounge and dining area within, and under, trellised gardens.

A secondary area provides a centralised pedestrian thoroughfare for residents, in addition to breakout spaces encompassing nooks, to help encourage social interaction and a sense of community.

An artist's impression of Unison Projects’ Hope Island's terrace homes development.

Unison Projects’ Shannon Down said plans for the site had undergone several iterations as part of a larger original development approval.

“The location of this enclave at the end of Santa Monia Boulevard provides outlook over the adjoining golf course and direct access to the canal boardwalk with open space, shopping, the marina and restaurants close by providing ample recreation opportunities,” he said.

Mr Petersen said the decision to pursue a reimagined use for the land was a savvy response to current demand.

“Housing undersupply is an ongoing issue on the Gold Coast, and infill sites such as this one remain critical to the development of new residential stock,” he said.

“This is especially important in areas such as Hope Island, which are already tightly held against firm projections for ongoing and expansive growth.

“Looking to the future, the wider Ormeau-Oxenford region is expected to welcome some of the coast’s largest population increases across the next few decades. Hope Island is tipped to be a strong driver of this growth.”

Mr Burrowes said factors including interstate migration, strong infrastructure development and lifestyle appeal had helped cement the suburb as a premier precinct in a development hotspot.

“The northern area of the coast is undergoing unprecedented growth, with heavy appetite for residential land in suburbs including Hope Island and nearby Coomera,” he said.

“It’s a trend we expect to strengthen as the coastal population trends upwards and housing demand intensifies.

“With advantages such as ready transport access to wider South East Queensland population centres, married with strong lifestyle amenity, it’s an area that will continue to hold strong appeal.”