First ‘high-rise’ takes off at Williams Landing

Artist's impression of the Newton Apartments. (Supplied)

As the population of Melbourne’s western suburbs continues to soar, Williams Landing is to get its first high-rise apartment block.

Work has started on Newton apartments, a four-storey development with 57 one and two-bedroom units, on the site of the former Laverton RAAF base.

Patrick Archer, a director of project developer Cedar Woods, said there was a demand for multi-residential buildings in the western suburbs.

“There have already been plenty of registrations of interest and we’re confident there will be a lot more,” he said.

Mr Archer said the Newton apartments would be an alternative for singles or couples looking to purchase in the western suburbs.

And he said there had already been some international interest in the apartments. While their price has not yet been set, Mr Archer said they would be more affordable than house and land in the area.

They are expected to be completed by early 2017.

The Williams Landing apartment development won’t be alone in Wyndham. A 27-home development is currently under construction in Point Cook, as is a five-storey building with 26 apartments in Werribee’s Watton Street.

Wyndham chief executive Kelly Grigsby said the council had recently prepared a Housing and Neighbourhood Character Strategy providing a 20-year plan for managing growth in the municipality.

“The strategy identifies those areas that are most appropriate for higher-density development, such as apartments, with good access to services and public transport,” she said.

“The strategy also encourages a diversity of housing types to cater for the different housing needs of our community.”