Ormond's 11-storey South Terrace tower deferred twice, still pending

Adelaide developer Ormond Nominees still has no decision on its proposed 11-storey tower at 77 South Terrace, after the City of Adelaide assessment panel deferred the application on 28 September and the proposal did not return to the panel’s agenda at its 26 October meeting, according to The Urban Developer.

Why it matters

The developer already holds an approved, unrelated project next door at 75-76 South Terrace, a 10-storey, 15-apartment tower cleared in 2024 comprising five three-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units. That earlier approval gives Ormond a track record of clearing council assessment on this stretch of South Terrace, which sharpens the question of why the taller, newer proposal next door has now been deferred twice rather than progressing on a similar timeline.

Planning consultant Simon Grose of Advantage Planning, who is running the application for Ormond through Advantage Planning, has argued the design stacks up against its surroundings. Grose said the proposal’s height is “comparable to other existing buildings along South Terrace,” and that its design, scale and proportions are acceptable for the site. The Urban Developer said it sought comment from Ormond through Grose and did not report a response.

The numbers

The application covers a 270 square metre site at 77 South Terrace, where an existing two-storey office building would be demolished. The 11-storey design, by architect LOOka Design, tops out with a communal terrace carrying a water feature, plant equipment and mechanical services. The apartment mix is one three-bedroom unit per floor, each with a study, four bathrooms, a separate laundry and two balconies. Levels 1 and 2 also include a car stacker and a one-bedroom apartment facing parkland. The scheme provides 22 car spaces and 12 bicycle spaces.

What’s next

The City of Adelaide assessment panel deferred the application pending three outstanding items: a wind-impact study, verification of how the building’s access and egress points would function, and more detail on the waste management plan. None of those items has been resolved publicly, and the proposal’s absence from the 26 October agenda means it remains pending rather than refused or approved. Ormond and Grose have not set out a timeline for returning to the panel. Other developers assessing sites along South Terrace will be watching whether addressing the panel’s three outstanding items is enough to secure a decision at the next scheduled meeting, or whether the application needs further design changes before it returns to the agenda.