Urbis

We're thrilled to announce four new outstanding leaders to our partnership. Congratulations Andy Johnston MIEAust CPEng NER, Rebecca Lyons, Alaine Roff, and Nicholas Stevenson! These leaders bring deep expertise, fresh ideas, and a shared commitment to delivering outcomes that make a real difference for communities and cities across Australia. "Each has built a career defined by impact, expertise, and a passion for shaping better cities. Together, they represent the next wave of leadership at Urbis," our Managing Partner James Tuma said. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gFUDWWx5

Congratulations to all involved in Perth Zoo’s win at the 2025 Western Australian Heritage Awards in the Conservation or Adaptive Reuse of a Local Heritage Place category for the Gibbon Enclosure project.    We’re honoured to have contributed as heritage architect and interpretation consultant, working alongside project partners Hassell and iredale pedersen hook, and the Perth Zoo team, to conserve and adaptively reuse the historic monkey shed enclosure and former aviary. Our work included developing an interpretation plan and signage to share the Zoo’s rich story with visitors.    Congratulations to everyone involved in this collaborative effort to protect and celebrate local heritage.    Marc Beattie, Caroline Stokes, Wade Goldwyer, Christian Oshiro, Bernice Burke 

Five years on from the release of the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Plan, the precinct is taking shape – and the lessons learned are shaping its future.    From the first private-sector Master Plan approval to major infrastructure and design milestones, we’ve been at the forefront of navigating the Aerotropolis Master Planning pathway.    In our latest Perspectives piece, we reflect on what’s worked, what can be improved, and the five critical takeaways for delivering successful projects in this transformational precinct.    Read more about our insights and the road ahead for the Aerotropolis: https://lnkd.in/gRs3bS2Z     Anthony Kong, Bruce Colman, RPIA, REAP, Christophe Charkos, Jennifer Cooper, David Hoy 

Housing Australia will open Round 3 of the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) in January — creating new opportunities to deliver more than 21,000 social and affordable homes for Australians. This round brings key improvements: • Multiple Federal funding streams, including the National Housing Accord Facility, are now streamlined under HAFF, making access simpler. • An open, on-demand, two-stage application process will enable faster decisions. We are ready to work with you to secure this funding and help turn vital housing projects into reality and can support your Round 3 bid through: • Site identification and due diligence • Business case and feasibility modelling • Urban design and master planning • Planning strategy and approvals • Impact assessment and valuations • Delivery models and partnerships. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gmUG8AnM Mark Dawson Riley Flanigan Christina Bagot

Brisbane 2032 is more than an event – it’s a unique chance for South East Queensland to define how the world sees it, and how it sees itself. In this opinion piece for The Courier-Mail, Urbis Managing Partner James Tuma explores why the region must move as one, tell a compelling story, and back it up with action to create a unified, globally competitive identity. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g9yrauHW  

Urbis' latest Student Accommodation Benchmarks data, released today, reveals there are 40,000 new beds in development pipeline nationally. The Australian Government's mandate for public universities to increase student enrolments on the condition they also increase access to student accommodation is partly driving this growth. "In Q3 alone, we saw 3,000 approvals. Around 2,600 of those are in Inner Adelaide, while Perth experienced a surge in new applications. Melbourne also holds a significant number of projects in the approval stage," Clinton Ostwald, Partner at Urbis, said. "We're projecting approximately 7,500 completions in 2027 - indicating strong momentum in the years ahead." In partnership with the Student Accommodation Council and Property Council of Australia, Urbis' Student Accommodation Benchmarks is the first benchmarking tool that tracks the Australian student accommodation sector. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gA6igPR6 Alex Stuart Alaine Roff Mel Jones

From a much-loved local club to a world-class destination; Parramatta Live is set to transform the heart of Western Sydney. We’re proud to have helped shape the bold vision for the Parra Leagues Club, leveraging our planning, engagement, heritage and visual analysis expertise to create a place that focuses on community connection. To read more, visit here: https://lnkd.in/gGUujtdD Murray Donaldson, Anthony Kong, Anthony Kilias, Fiona Binns, Anna Mitchell, Jane Maze-Riley Image: Cox Architecture

Last night in Brisbane, we were delighted to welcome industry colleagues to the Urbis 2025 Shopping Centre Benchmarks event — part of our national series unpacking the latest retail insights. It was a valuable opportunity to connect with so many in the sector, exchanging ideas on the future of retail over canapés and drinks. This series offers an early preview of findings from our 34th annual Shopping Centre Benchmarks report, ahead of its official release next week — providing perspectives to help shape stronger, more resilient retail destinations across Australia. Our retail experts Elissa Stewart and David Wilcox shared their insights on the data, past trends, and strategies to position retail assets for success in the year ahead, as well as the consumer behaviours and growth opportunities shaping South East Queensland. A panel discussion featuring Ivan Hill (Urbis) and John Bryant (Stockland) explored the key trends influencing shopping centre performance, the drivers behind renewed investor interest, and how retail destinations are evolving to meet future needs. For 34 years, the Urbis Shopping Centre Benchmarks has been essential data for the retail and shopping centre industry. If you’d like to join us for upcoming Shopping Centre Benchmarks events in Sydney and Melbourne, please speak to one of our national retail team. Thank you to everyone who joined us in Brisbane, and to our national retail team for making this series possible: David Cresp Ian Shimmin Jeff Armstrong Elissa Stewart Hamish Coleman Melissa Griffin David Wilcox David Hoy Laura Thomas Lyn Gray David Larkin #shoppingcentres #retail #urbis #marketinsights

The release of the Bridging the Gender Pain Gap report from the Department of Health marks an important step towards improving how our healthcare system understands and responds to women’s experiences of pain. In partnership with Safer Care Victoria, we were honoured to lead the analysis of more than 13,000 survey responses, 300 written submissions, and insights from 40 focus groups. These stories, often deeply personal and challenging, have highlighted the systemic barriers faced by women and girls seeking care, and the urgent need for change. We are grateful to everyone who openly shared their experiences – their voices have shaped this inquiry and will help drive meaningful reform in pain management and women’s health across Victoria. Urbis commends the Victorian Government for its commitment to listening to women’s experiences and for taking meaningful steps to improve patient care. We are proud to have contributed to this significant inquiry and look forward to seeing its recommendations drive positive change in pain management and women’s health across Victoria. Read more about the inquiry here: https://lnkd.in/gcEYGN3R Christina Bagot, Christina Griffiths

The latest edition of our Living Sectors Market Insights report is out! We explore how retail assets may be unlocked for greater opportunity through key developments across Build-to-Rent, Co-Living, Purpose-Built Student Accommodation, and Seniors Living. As part of our commitment to shaping the future of the Living Sectors, we are also proud sponsors of the Living Sectors Summit in Sydney this week. Mark Dawson will moderate the panel 'Active Investors: Competing for Capital in the Living Sectors – Who Wins?', exploring investors' evolving interest in real estate and the key contenders emerging for capital allocation. Stephen White will lead 'Planning Pathways: Developing Nationally Consistent Design Concessions', discussing how better planning frameworks can reduce risk, attract investment, and enable new builds. Download the report: https://lnkd.in/g2UsRM8U Mark Dawson, Dylan Gray, Chehade Sakr, Alexandra Lane, Alex Stuart, Sophy Purton, Paul Riga, Billy Rebakis, Stephen White, Ben Lyons, David Hoy, Ian Shimmin, Melissa Griffin, Rajiv Mahendran, Harry Scott, Kate Gregory, Robert Cowell, Belinda Thomas, David Cresp #Housing #LivingSectors #Retail #MixedUse #MarketInsights