Developer Glen Vollebregt says Glenelg housing in midst of generational resurgence

The boss of one of Adelaide’s leading developers says one beachside suburbs is in the middle of a massive resurgence as he doubles down on his plan for affordable housing.

Glenelg is in the midst of a “once-in-a-generation resurgence”, the managing director of one of Adelaide’s leading development groups says.

Developer Glen Vollebregt, of Barrio Developments, is urging South Australians to take advantage of the boom – saying he’s figured out a way to “mix luxury with affordable housing”.

It comes after documents lodged to PlanSA revealed Barrio’s proposal for an apartment on Adelphi Tce would increase from four storeys to six and up to nine under the latest plan – exceeding the maximum height of 18.5m.

Mr Vollebregt said the breach of planning rules was a mere “misunderstanding” and addressed his fix to the state’s housing crisis.

An artist impression of Barrio Developments’ proposed new apartment block, which it wants to raise to nine storeys. Picture: Future Urban

Planning documents say several buildings already approved for the area or under construction are already higher than the 18.5m maximum.

“I think Glenelg is in a once-in-a-generation resurgence – there’s a few cranes in the sky there. There’s certainly more development happening in this sort of five-year period now than has happened in the past decade,” he said.

“While the zone is 18.5m, it has incentives for affordable housing and other opportunities to increase height, so that 18.5m is just not the maximum height at all.”

Mr Vollebregt said he was “proud” the new building would offer nearly a quarter of its apartments as affordable housing.

“In 22-23 Adelphi Tce, we’ve just hit 24 per cent affordable housing which we’re super proud of and we’re not ashamed of that,” he said.

“Most developers in Glenelg will shy away from it and say ‘yeah we’re not going to do that’, but we mix luxury with affordable housing and the price blends out the bill, the project works and it’s great.

Quayview on Adelphi. Picture: Barrio Developments.

Quayview on Adelphi. Picture: Barrio Developments.

“It’s housing people that want – and can afford – the best views and the biggest apartments which is great. We get some people that can’t afford that and need affordable housing, and we can deliver that in the building as well.”

Barrio Developments received planning consent in June 2023 for a four-storey, 28-apartment building at 16 Adelphi Tce – and then additional consent to add two more levels and 12 more units. Now the developers want to go to nine storeys and 53 apartments.

It already have its Quayview On Adelphi building under construction on the same street at 22-23 Adelphi Tce, scheduled to be completed within “a couple of months”, Mr Vollebregt said.

Originally published as Developer Glen Vollebregt says Glenelg housing in midst of generational resurgence