Sandhurst Retail Lodges Plans for $40m Neighbourhood Centre in Rathdowne

Developer Sandhurst Retail has lodged a development application with Whittlesea Council for a $40 million neighbourhood centre in Wollert, one of the state’s fastest-growing regions.

The build-and-hold retail developer has engaged Dutch architecture firm OMA to design the 9000sq m mixed-use retail centre, which will also incorporate childcare, health and wellbeing amenities and public spaces.

The Wollert Town Centre—one of two Sandhurst projects slated for development within the Wollert Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) in Melbourne’s northern growth corridor—will be located between Jardin Road and Veerings Road, on land purchased from Villawood Properties last year.

While Sandhurst retail director Vivek Subramanian admits he’d be “foolish” not to acknowledge the economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 outbreak, he remains optimistic about the outlook for Sandhurst’s “aggressive” pipeline, with their first projects still three to five years away from delivery.

“These are certainly interesting times—but no one’s Robinson Crusoe here,” Subramanian said.

“We’re keeping a close eye on it and like all businesses we’ll have to evolve, but we’re confident things will work out.

“The sophistication of the responses of people and businesses are showing towards each other is really encouraging, people are stepping up, as they should be.

“Landlords like us—who build and manage assets long-term—are looking at how people shop, and bricks and mortar centres in growth corridors are an exciting place to be.”