An artist’s impression of JW Land’s Lathlain Street development in Belconnen. Images: Cox Architecture.
JW Land’s massive Lathlain Street development in Belconnen will have one less building and more open space than originally proposed but still deliver 435 apartments and a 144-room hotel.
A development application has been submitted for a $147 million project for the 5675 square metre site (Block 6 Section 23) opposite Westfield and bounded by Lathlain, Cohen and Rae streets and a future park to the north.
The Canberra developer has responded to feedback last year from the National Capital Design Review Panel that the site was over-densified and lacked amenity and green space for such a significant urban renewal site, in effect sending it back to the drawing board.
There will now be four towers instead of five, with three, including the hotel, rising 19 storeys (60 metres) and one 14 storeys (42 metres).
The hotel will sit on the corner of Lathlain and Cohen streets, the 14-storey Building A on Rae Street, Building B on Lathlain Street and Building C on the corner of Cohen and Rae streets. Building A and B sit on a podium and can be considered one building.
The plans show a large treed podium park between buildings A and B, in front of which is a plaza opening out to the future urban park on the northern side of the block.
Both buildings A and B have large rooftop terrace gardens, with smaller rooftop terraces on Building C and the hotel.
At ground level cafes, restaurants and shops are planned to provide active street frontages, while office suites will line Lathlain Street at Level 1.
Residential amenities include multiple rooftop gardens, shared dining facilities, barbecues, nature play elements, exercise spaces and end-of-trip facilities.
“Creation of a cohesive public realm and a seamless transition for pedestrians has been forefront to the precinct’s master planning,” the DA says.
“This has ensured walkways and connections through the site to the future park, Cohen Street, Rae Street and Lathlain Street.”
The residential component is a mix of mostly one and two-bedroom apartments with a smattering of three-bedroom apartments.
The one-beds total 180 with eight different floorplans ranging from 50 to 56 sqm, and 8 and 9 sqm balconies.
There are 233 two-bedroom apartments, with 10 floorplans and a combination of two bedrooms plus study and/or a second bathroom. Internal areas range from 70 to 81 sqm with balconies from 10 to 15 sqm. They are dispersed throughout all levels of the development.
The three-bedroom apartments are in Buildings A and B at various points, with three floorplans ranging from 102 to 150 sqm and balconies of 11, 31 and 34 sqm.
The whole precinct sits on four levels of basement parking, providing 583 car spaces for residents, including 141 tandem spaces and 37 spaces for hotel guests. At least one space per unit must be EV-ready.
There are five short-stay spaces, including one accessible for hotel parking in the porte cochere and five public spaces at ground level.
Basement access will be from Rae Street while a pedestrianised service lane also from Rae Street will provide for waste collection, access for ground-level commercial parking and access for a hotel drop-off and basement entry and exit.
JW Land National Head of Development Michael Prendergast said the old development scheme included a separate building of serviced apartments but that was removed.
The Review Panel also influenced the design outcome, he said.
“The NCDRP’s comments were instrumental in terms of informing the ground floor plate and connectivity to the site’s environs,” Mr Prendergast said.
“There was also a reduction in ground floor retail and a more urban interface provided in response to the future government park directly north of the site.”
Mr Prendergast said the project had been designed to be delivered over three stages.
“The architect has done an amazing job designing the facades of the three buildings,” he said.
The site’s proximity to Westfield would be a major drawcard to a buyers.
“There is a genuine diversity in floorplan types that will cater from first-home buyers to downsizers and everyone in between,” Mr Prendergast said.
JW Land bought the site from the ACT Government for $18.25 million in August 2023.
It came with sustainability conditions (rooftop solar is planned) and a Place Design Brief developed with the community, which reflected a desire for an intimate urban experience, better and walkable connections between precincts, open and green spaces, shared spaces and facilities, and activated street fronts, including cafes, restaurants and bars.
Comment can be made on the DA until 22 April.
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