Tackling Newcastle’s pressing housing shortage while safeguarding residents’ quality of life has been the guiding principle of the Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP) throughout 2024, as it assessed a remarkable $1.45 billion in development proposals across the city.
Over the past 12 months, the UDRP conducted 67 individual design review sessions, providing expert guidance to City of Newcastle staff and development applicants on 49 different projects.
These efforts are detailed in the UDRP’s 2024 Annual Report, which will be presented at the upcoming Council meeting.
The report highlights several major developments, including the DOMA Group’s $130 million twin-tower luxury apartment complex, The Store, alongside a $19.4 million educational facility on University Drive at Callaghan, a $6.1 million residential building in Hamilton, and a nearly $12 million co-living housing project on Denison Street in Newcastle West.
Michelle Bisson, City of Newcastle’s Executive Director of Planning and Environment, emphasised the critical role the UDRP plays in enhancing urban design quality.
“The panel provides independent, impartial, and expert advice to City of Newcastle and applicants about the quality of the urban design and amenity of development proposals and strategic design projects,” Bisson said.
She also noted the growing demand for the panel’s expertise, explaining: “The increase in demand for their services has seen the panel increase to seven members, plus the Chairperson, which has helped to cover the large number of applications.”
Bisson added: “The collective experience of the UDRP members consistently grounds the advice in real-world experience, while balancing the practicalities and challenges of property development and construction.”
UDRP Chairperson Dr Philip Pollard remarked on the panel’s broad engagement with projects of all scales.
“We continue to see the face of Newcastle change and develop in an exciting manner, but we’re mindful of the wonderful Indigenous and colonial heritage we’ve inherited,” he said.
Dr Pollard also welcomed the trend of applicants seeking design input earlier in the process, stating: “We’re delighted to see an increase of instances where applicants are presenting designs prior to the Development Application stage, proving applicants value of our advice.”
Beyond review, the UDRP also serves as the Design Integrity Panel on select projects, ensuring that design quality and original details are maintained or enhanced through construction.
In 2024, this oversight included 17 developments such as the Dairy Farmers Towers in Newcastle West, a 16-dwelling project on Church Street in Mayfield, and Stages 3 and 4 of the Hunter Street development, part of the East End project led by Iris Capital.
The extensive work of the UDRP reflects the City of Newcastle’s commitment to addressing the housing supply challenge responsibly, integrating quality design and preserving community character amid rapid development.
