Newcastle Honeysuckle precinct is growing with new harbour-side apartments

The vacant land at 35 Honeysuckle Drive in Newcastle will receive new life with the unveiling of a new residential and retail development.
Hunter Development Corporation (HDC) has unveiled that the successful proposal for 35 Honeysuckle Drive by Doma Group beat shortlisted designs from other national developers, and was selected by an independent design review panel consisting of members from the Office of the Government Architect NSW, Newcastle City Council and the Newcastle Urban Design Consultation Group.

HDC Chief Executive Michael Cassel said HDC is committed to raising the design standards and delivering more accessible public areas and more attractive buildings.

"The community has told us that building design and public spaces need to improve in Honeysuckle and this proposal delivers that – it is a new benchmark for the precinct.
"To achieve this outcome, we ran a comprehensive design-focused process and it has produced architectural excellence that I am confident the community will value," said Mr Cassel.

The proposal features 92 apartments and 1,533m² of retail space adjacent to Doma Group’s residential development at 21 Honeysuckle Drive.

"This exciting proposal features significant and attractive public open space around the buildings that will integrate with HDC’s future public domain works along the picturesque Honeysuckle harbourfront," said Mr Cassel.

The NSW Government is investing more than $650 million revitalising the city centre, making Newcastle an extremely attractive place to live and work.

"Together with the private sector, we are building a thriving metropolitan city and creating new jobs and more homes.
"Doma Group’s proposal for 35 Honeysuckle Drive will see around 246 construction jobs created, and create around 76 ongoing retail jobs."

HDC expects Doma Group to obtain development approval by the end of 2018 and construction to commence around mid-2019.