Australian build-to-rent (BTR) developer Mannequin has introduced it has secured planning approval to redevelop the 1886 Schweppes Cordial Manufacturing unit on Lithgow Avenue in Abbotsford, in Melbourne’s inside east, with a brand new residential part.
Designed by Warren and Mahoney, the $120 million venture contains a mass-timber, all-electric addition, which is focusing on Passivhaus certification, a 9-Star NatHERS ranking, a 6-Star Inexperienced Star ranking and a 40 p.c discount in embodied carbon, the developer has stated.
Based on their media launch, the venture has been permitted below the Victorian authorities’s Improvement Facilitation Program (DFP), which is reserved for housing tasks providing important contribution to the state’s financial system, embody reasonably priced housing or is of high-quality design, liveability and sustainability.
Mannequin founder and CEO Rory Hunter stated the approval marked a turning level in how bold growth is recognised in Australia.
“A central pillar of Mannequin’s thesis is that sustainability, distinctive design and reasonably priced housing at scale may be delivered collectively reasonably than traded in opposition to each other – and the planning system is beginning to reward that method. Mannequin on Lithgow proves that thesis in follow. That alignment between developer ambition and authorities coverage is what’s going to unlock higher density outcomes for Australian cities,” he commented.
The $120 million venture has been permitted to ship 158 residences, 10 p.c of which have been allotted as reasonably priced housing, throughout six storeys.
Warren and Mahoney principal Simon Topliss stated the design “combines each adaptive reuse and world-leading sustainable design rules to have a good time Abbotsford’s heritage and improve the area people’s amenity, whereas elevating the end-users’ expertise inside a climate-resilient, future-proofed asset.”
Topliss added that the scheme “goals to set a brand new dwelling customary for studios and residences.”
“By means of nice design we are able to ship more healthy, extra comfy properties, coupled with decrease utility prices for each residents and Mannequin’s core operation,” he commented.
The venture was lately named within the 2026 World Structure Competition shortlist, within the Future Residential Initiatives Class.
Alongside Warren and Mahoney, the venture is being delivered by Urbis (planning), Arup (ESD), Slattery (amount surveying), and TTW (structural and mass timber engineering). Multiplex has been engaged by an early contractor involvement settlement.
