The project

The project entails demolition of the existing structures on-site and construction of a 57-storey mixed-use Build-to-Rent (BTR) development comprising:

• Basement bicycle parking and end-of-trip facilities, accessed from Little Spring Street
• Ground-level loading and carshare, accessed from Little Spring Street
• Ground-level residential lobbies fronting Walker Street and Little Spring Street
• Small-format retail fronting Walker Street and the proposed pedestrian through-site link
• 53 levels of BTR accommodation, with 492 apartments in total
• Communal open space and resident amenity on Upper Ground and Levels 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, 13, 53 and 54
• An 11.8m-wide, open-to-sky pedestrian through-site link along the northern boundary
• Rooftop plant and building services.

What are Build-to-Rent apartments?

Build-to-Rent is a property development model that involves the construction of residential buildings for the purpose of renting the apartments to tenants, rather than selling them to individual buyers. The properties are managed by an on-site management and maintenance team. Build-to-Rent provides a high-quality, long-term rental housing option for tenants that offers a range of on-site amenities for comfort and convenience.

About Novus

Novus is a developer, owner and operator of Build-to-Rent assets focused on the Australian market.
Through its vertically integrated platform, Novus manages every step from asset origination and creation through to the ongoing operations of completed assets – a platform designed to ensure the communities created provide exceptional outcomes for residents and investors alike.

The approval process

Novus is seeking approval for the project through a State Significant Development Application, which will be assessed by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.
Under the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979, developments may be considered ‘state significant’ because they are important to NSW for economic, environmental and/or social reasons.
Due to this importance, the State Significant Development Application will be submitted with an Environmental Impact Statement on the project’s impacts.
The Environmental Impact Statement will include an Engagement Report, documenting your feedback and how it has informed the project design.

Managing impacts

Novus is working to understand the potential impacts of the project and the ways to mitigate these impacts. To understand these impacts, Novus is preparing detailed traffic, visual and noise impact assessments. These assessments will form part of the Environmental Impact Statement.
During construction, care will be taken to minimise noise and traffic impacts. Best practice mitigation measures will be taken, including the use of barriers and screens to contain dust, and maintaining a clean worksite.
Novus is committed to keeping the community informed throughout each stage of the planning and construction phases.

Next steps

After formal lodgement of the State Significant Development Application, the project will be exhibited for 14 days on the online NSW Government planning portal.
At that point, you can make a formal submission on whether you support the project and if you have any comments on it.
After the public exhibition period, the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will review the project and all submissions and request Novus to respond to all submissions.
The Department will then make a final assessment on whether the project can proceed.

Your feedback

What happens to my feedback?

Obtaining feedback from the community is a vital step in the development process. 
Novus has commissioned HillPDA to seek feedback from neighbours and the community and answer your questions.
Your feedback from engagement will help to shape the project. Feedback received will be collated into an Engagement Report, to be submitted with the project application. For your feedback to be included in the Engagement Report, we must receive it by 11 December 2026.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will consider the Engagement Report as part of the review and approval process for the project.