High-density apartment showrooms in retail precincts

As Sydney grapples with the housing crisis, the NSW government has made housing its top priority, fast-tracking thousands of new high-density developments across the city. Just last week, Premier Chris Minns announced the rezoning of land in seven additional Sydney suburbs near key transport hubs to deliver more housing. This marks a significant shift in how residential precincts are designed—placing residents closer to transport corridors, shops and services to create more sustainable and connected communities.

One trend emerging from this push for high-density living is the growing demand for prime retail spaces to serve as display suite showrooms for off-the-plan apartment sales. Developers are seeking locations on bustling retail strips to attract foot traffic and provide potential buyers with the convenience of walking in to view high-quality displays during their lunch breaks or while shopping.

These beautifully fitted-out display suites are designed to give prospective buyers a tangible sense of what their future home could look like long before construction begins. It’s a shift from the traditional approach, where a finished apartment within a completed building served as the display home.

Case Study: Billbergia Group at 66 Archer Street, Chatswood

A recent example of this trend in action is the leasing of 66 Archer Street, Chatswood to Billbergia Group. Renowned for creating high-quality living environments, Billbergia has just opened a beautifully fitted-out display showroom for The Chatswood Grand Residences —a luxury development featuring architect-designed residences and penthouses.

The display suite offers a glimpse into the future homes that will soon rise on the doorstep of Chatswood’s retail heart, right between Westfield and Chatswood Station and Interchange. The lease we negotiated is for two years in the premises previously occupied by another developer’s showroom, reflecting the significance of this trend. As high-density housing developments continue to be prioritised across NSW, landlords we work with need not be concerned about the risk of taking on a tenant on a shorter lease, knowing there will always be another developer ready to occupy the space.

Successfully navigating this new trend requires an agent who understands the intricacies of both the retail and development markets. At Shead Property, we work closely with landlords and tenants to address challenges such as shorter lease terms and precise location requirements. Our ability to match properties from our extensive portfolio with developer needs has been instrumental in bringing deals like Billbergia’s to fruition.