Double Bay: Fortis wins approval for commercial development on Bay Street

Plans for a mammoth $17m luxury commercial project in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been given the green light. Find out how it will contribute to the revitalisation of Double Bay.

An artist impression of the development.

Plans for a mammoth $17m luxury commercial project at Double Bay by developer Fortis have been given the green light, marking the group’s fourth commercial venture in the village centre.

Five land holdings at Bay St and New South Head Rd will be amalgamated for a five-storey office development, following conciliation in the Land and Environment Court between the developer and Woollahra Council.

The plans – which had been refused by the Woollahra local planning panel in December – have been updated and allows the building height to exceed the 5m height limit.

Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.

The development, known as Ruby House, will be funded by commercial real estate manager Pallas Capital, which sits under the Pallas Group umbrella along with Fortis.

Artists impressions of the development at Bay St and New South Head Rd. Picture: Fortis.

The rooftop terrace at the Bay St and New South Head Rd Fortis development. Picture: Fortis.

The individual blocks were acquired in 2022 for $82m, combining to 1863sq m with frontages to Bay St, New South Head Rd and Brooklyn Ln.

Sydney architecture firm Lawton Hurley has been appointed to lead the project, with interiors by Woods Bagot.

Ruby House will include 5151sq m in commercial floor space which can be divided into large, medium, smaller tenancies, and will have 90 car basement carparking spaces.

The project will feature open terraces on each office floor, as well as an open terrace on the top floor with bay views.

Artists impressions of the development at Bay St and New South Head Rd. Picture: Fortis.

Artists impressions of the development at Bay St and New South Head Rd. Picture: Fortis.

Fortis associate director Ed Eve said the project would contribute to the revitalisation of Double Bay.

“We always believed in Double Bay’s potential to reassert its position as a vibrant town centre, and feel privileged to be driving this transformation, setting a new standard for development in this neighbourhood,” he said.

Mr Eve said Fortis anticipated the commercial space Ruby House would be leased ahead of the building’s completion, amid strong demand for commercial space beyond the Sydney CBD.

“Continued market leading rental growth demonstrates a robust appetite for premium office space in city-fringe locations, as organisations choose to move closer to where their employees live and socialise,” he said.