Darwin developer Sunbuild progressing work at Nightcliff’s Sea Breeze apartments

Work is set to resume at a half-finished Darwin construction site that will deliver more housing to the market, and offer prospective residents more options. Read what will hit the market.

Sea breeze apartments Nightcliff drawings December 2022

Darwin developer Sunbuild is preparing to relaunch Sea Breeze apartments six years after the project was mothballed.

Sunbuild owner Neil Sunners began developing the prominent Nightcliff site in 2015 but the project was shelved the following year as low sales reflected the spluttering NT economy.

The Sunbuild crane and unfinished construction site on the corner of Progress and Dick Ward drives has served as a reminder of the Territory’s fragile economy ever since.

Earlier this year Sunbuild began the process of re-submitting its development application through the Development Consent Authority and, with approvals finalised in October, is preparing the site for work.

Fresh branding has been wrapped around the external site fence and marketing material has been wrapped around the crane.

The Sea Breeze development will include a swimming pool.

The plan is for 92 three and two-bedroom apartments in five storeys as well as 700sq m in five commercial tenancies.

It’s hoped these will include a restaurant, office, shop, beautician and a cafe as well as three levels of secure underground carparking and storerooms for residents and ample visitor and public carparking undercover within the building.

Sea Breeze marketing manager Byron Wauchope said the Darwin Town Plan had been amended since the project stopped in 2016, which required a reconfiguration of the original design.

“The six years between 2016 and 2022 have been a huge period for Darwin,” he said.

“In that six-year period we’ve had a local financial crisis, Covid and our town plan has changed.

Sea Breeze apartments in Nightcliff will deliver more residential options to the suburb.

“Last November I looked overseas at what changes Covid and lockdown had made to buying trends and the one big change was the ability to work from home.

“It opened people’s minds to working from home and now we have the technology to back it up.

“There’s a high desire for a secure workplace so we can lock the office and not have pets or kids wandering in.”

In keeping with the new Darwin town plan, Sunbuild is installing a secure bike room for 33 bikes with lockers and charging facilities.

“We are also looking into electric car charging options to future proof the building.”

Ninety-two apartments are planned, with developers keeping the original design of two-bathroom and two-bedroom and three-bedroom two-bathroom and two bedroom one bathroom options.

Developer Neil Sunners at his construction site in Nightcliff. Picture: (A) manda Parkinson

“In addition, our two bedroom multipurpose apartment gives buyers ability to choose from a dual key style apartment or a home office with separate entrance and power reader.

“Versatility will be the key feature of the Sea Breeze apartments,” Mr Wauchope said.

Prices will start at $420,000 for a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment with the three bedroom models starting at $520,000.

Sunbuild will retain up to half the apartments as rentals and, with the bottom half of the apartment already completed, expects residents to be moving in by next Christmas.

“We expect to be out of here late next year,” Mr Wauchope said.

“We’ve got no more soil to cart, it’s just stuff coming up like cupboards, steel and concrete.

“Basements one and two are in and most of the storerooms are finished.

“By this time next year they should be on the market. We’d like to think this time next year people will be moving in.”

See the full details on the development here.

Originally published as Darwin developer Sunbuild progressing work at Nightcliff’s Sea Breeze apartments