Ballot proposed as demand heats up for lifestyle blocks at Sutton's Woodbury Ridge

A ballot will be held for the chance to purchase a dream block of land in the highly sought-after Woodbury Ridge estate on the fringe of Sutton village.

Capital Plus 1 Real Estate sales agent Andrew Cook says enquiries have gone through the roof since expressions of interest opened in late August.

“We have been getting over 300 enquiries a week since we launched,” he said.

The interest has been so high that the agency decided to create a ballot for the first release of approximately 30 blocks, to be drawn on 10 October, with block selection day to follow on 15 October.

The pricing and supporting documents will be released ahead of the ballot on 26 September and potential buyers will have until 9 October to throw their hats into the ring.

Mr Cook says the large block sizes, ranging from 1.2 acres to more than 6 acres, coupled with the tranquil bush location, proximity to Canberra CBD and the amenity of Sutton Village, has driven the strong interest from ACT residents and those living in nearby regional towns.

“There’s a shortage of land in and around Canberra, and Sutton is by far the best located and least developed regional village in NSW within 40 minutes of the city,” he said.

“Most enquiries have come from Canberra residents wanting a tree change. We’ve also had people that grew up in or around Sutton that want to move back, but property is so tightly held in the village that they can’t get in.”

The quaint village of Sutton has exploded with amenities in recent years and now boasts wineries, bakeries and an art gallery. The region offers a serene rural setting to unwind, yet you will be able to walk your children to the local school, preschool and shops.

Woodbury Ridge will offer a rural lifestyle close to Canberra, but it won’t be a free-for-all development, with the undulating landscape and pockets of ecologically sensitive bushland dictating the built form of the subdivision, including the flow of roads and the location of building envelopes on the blocks.

“One of the key differences is the way this estate has been designed, with building envelopes on each block located to make the most of the individual aspect and views over the tree canopies or the river,” Mr Cook said.

To achieve a balanced and ecologically sensitive outcome for the site, areas identified as being of high ecological value will be protected, while Design Guidelines for the estate will encourage high-quality, sustainable design principles to be adopted by homeowners.

The property is home to a number of vulnerable species, including the superb parrot and golden sun moth, as well as remnants of box-gum woodlands.

The development includes 19 Village blocks, 32 Hilltop blocks, 11 Riverside blocks – including three with direct frontage to the Yass River – and four large Stewardship blocks, as well as a community park with a playground, barbecue facilities and sports area.

Mr Cook said the Hilltop blocks facing either east or west offered incredible sweeping views over the bush and river or across farmland and beyond to Canberra. The building envelopes on these elevated blocks are nestled amongst the tree canopies offering privacy while also protecting the aesthetic of the hillside.

The Riverside lots feature larger building envelopes with freedom to build. Some lots could be used to run a few head of cattle, goats or sheep on the Hilltop blocks. Horses will be permitted in the Riverside Precinct.

The Stewardship sites have been created to offset the impact of the development and will be managed in perpetuity by the landowners for conservation purposes. This ensures the ecological value of the sites is maintained and improved over time.

Mr Cook has started conducting walking tours of the site by appointment only from Thursday to Saturdays, and he says the feedback from visitors has been “really impressive”.

“We’re doing a 2.5-kilometre loop around the property and people have been really surprised with how close it really is to Canberra, especially the city and Gungahlin,” he said.

“They’ve been pleasantly surprised by the amenity of Sutton village and what it has to offer.

“The generous size of the blocks, the ecological values of the site and the variety of views and aspects from all the different blocks have definitely been a talking point. Some love being by the river, while others liked the elevated lots.”

The release of lots will include a mix of block sizes and types, including some premium Riverside and Hilltop sites. A further release is anticipated to hit the market early to mid-2023.

Approved by Yass Valley Council in April, the 500-acre subdivision is part of the Woodbury property that the Cartwright family has held since the early 1860s.

Mr Cook said Bill and Fay Cartwright both passed away in recent years and it was their wish to see part of their land sensitively developed into rural residential blocks that would enhance Sutton village and leave a lasting family legacy.

Civil works are expected to start in November and take around 12 months, with settlement expected by the last quarter of 2023. Work has already commenced on the regeneration of the river foreshore which will be brought back to its natural state and retained as community open space with seating and picnic areas.

To find out more or book a tour, register your interest in Woodbury Ridge, or contact Andrew Cook at Capital Plus 1 Real Estate on 0431 891 519.

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