With a lush green ‘spine’, parklands and access to the harbour, this St Leonards development feels like a genuine escape.

When buyers crave green surroundings but want to be close to the CBD, they typically must sacrifice one for the other.

However, with the creation of The Newlands, a uniquely designed sustainable development, there’s now no need to compromise.

Located in south St Leonards on Sydney’s sought-after lower north shore, The Newlands is part of a sustainable, masterplanned revitalisation of the area.

The Newlands faces onto parkland and benefits from a lush green spine of 5,700sqm that runs through the area’s masterplan.

Greenery runs through the development like a spine, allowing residents to enjoy it regardless of position.

Meanwhile, the bustling mini-CBD of St Leonards is just a 10-minute walk away, along with two train stations, St Leonards and Wollstonecraft, which are just a few quick stops from the city.

“It’s a genuinely beautiful collision of living on the fringe of the bush. The entire development is surrounded by trees and greenery native to the area, with elevated boardwalks, water features and nature trails,” says Jeff Curnow, Development Director, Top Spring Australia.

Tree change in the heart of Sydney

The Newlands, designed by Bates Smart Architecture and landscaping by Arcadia Landscape Architecture, evokes a genuine feeling of a tree change.

“You can step out of The Newlands and simply walk down to the harbour along Berry Creek, through the dense bush, then turn the corner and see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House,” Curnow says.

The best of Sydney is just a stone’s throw away from The Newlands.

No need to compromise

While greenery is front and centre of The Newlands, it is home to all the amenities residents will love.

A resort-style outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor gyms, two infrared saunas, a yoga area, and private playgrounds are just some of the features. There’s also a rooftop private dining area that can be reserved for entertaining and for showing off city views.

Locally, St Leonards is bursting with amenity, including offices, schools and transport. Adjacent suburbs Wollstonecraft and Greenwich are within walking distance and offer well-established village lifestyles.

“It’s a uniquely convenient position where you can get away from all the hustle and bustle but still be so close to everything,” Curnow says.

Residents will get to enjoy a host of outdoor amenities.

Timeless appeal

The perfect mix of greenery and amenity is not only great from a lifestyle perspective but also from an investment standpoint.

Paul Ryan, senior economist, REA Group, says rental prices in the area have grown by 15% in the past year.

“Nationally, we’ve seen rents up by around 8.7% and in Sydney in general rents are up about 12.7% over the past year, meaning St Leonards is outperforming both Sydney and the national average,” he says.

Ryan says the population of the area has also grown by 22% in the past 10 years, further highlighting its popularity and confidence in the future of the suburb.

“The lower north shore of Sydney is a very appealing place from a lifestyle perspective. People have everything they need in one suburb. But it’s also a little bit more relaxed and leafier which appeals to a lot of people,” he adds.

There’s a reason people flock to the area, with rents higher than the city average year-on-year.

Community connections

With The Newlands providing so much for residents to enjoy, Curnow is confident they will form a great sense of community in a short space of time.

“We have a number of downsizers moving into the three-bedroom residences, and many of our one- and two-bedroom apartments have been popular with first-home buyers and investors.

“A number of our three-bedroom apartments and terraces have been sold to young families. We can already see the development will have a relatively high proportion of owner-occupiers,” he says.

To help residents build connections, The Newlands community app will connect people to each other and to local suppliers for services such as dog washing or personal training.

“Our goal is to help build a genuine community that will love living in the completed development,” Curnow says.

There is a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and garden terraces on offer across five medium-density residential buildings. The three buildings within Stage 1 are now all selling, with anticipated completion in 2025. 

Prices at The Newlands range from approximately $865,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to around $3.25 million for three bedrooms with terraces. 

All images supplied by The Newlands St Leonards.

The post How Sydney buyers can have a tree change without leaving the city appeared first on realestate.com.au.

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