Adelaide is set to welcome the city's largest purpose-built student accommodation development, with the State's independent planning board giving the green light for a 33-storey, 1002-room project on North Terrace.
The $400 million development - to be delivered by 1835 Property - will rise from the current car park site at the rear of Trinity Church, Adelaide's oldest church at 88 North Terrace.
Alongside the new construction, the project will also include significant heritage upgrades across the Church's historic landholding and include a new ministry and administration facilities for Trinity Church.
The project has received the full support of the Trinity Church Network, which sees the development as a generational opportunity to renew and enhance its historic site.
Construction is scheduled to commence in January, with completion expected by April 2028, following approval from the State Commission Assessment Panel.
With 1002 rooms and a mix of studio, shared, and premium apartment options, the project will become a central hub for student life - located just steps from the new Adelaide University, Adelaide's biomedical and cultural and transport links.
The building will feature best in class student amenity and experience including a cinema, 24/7 gym, dedicated yoga studio, collaborative study zones, social lounges, a communal kitchen and dining spaces, café, and a landscaped public piazza.
The development is expected to support more than 400 jobs during construction and will contribute significantly to revitalising the city's western precinct.
Adelaide University, formed through the recent merger of the University of Adelaide and UniSA, has expressed strong support for the project's contribution to enhancing the student experience.
As put by Susan Close
This approval is a win for our economy, for our universities and for our City's vibrancy. It will not only provide world-class living and learning spaces for students, but also create hundreds of local jobs and breathe new life into the west of the City.
We are proud to see this project proceed with the full support of Trinity Church, ensuring that Adelaide's rich heritage is respected and enhanced alongside new growth.
This landmark development marks a transformative moment for Adelaide's city centre and for the thousands of students who will call it home.
As put by Blair Boyer
This project exemplifies our vision for a vibrant, well-connected city centre that balances growth with respect for Adelaide's unique heritage.
With more than 1,000 new beds just steps from the new Adelaide University, this project will help attract and support students from across Australia and overseas.
The approval process carefully considered community feedback and heritage values, resulting in a project that respects the past while meeting the needs of future generations.
As put by Jason Di Iulio, 1835 Property Managing Director
This approval marks a transformative milestone - it's the culmination of deep partnerships with State and Local Government, the planning and design communities, and our stakeholders across the Church and education sectors
The development will not only create a vibrant student living precinct - it will deliver an enduring economic asset that strengthens the City of Adelaide's education economy and urban fabric.
As put by Professor Peter Høj, Adelaide University co-Vice Chancellor
As one of Australia's most liveable cities, Adelaide is vibrant, welcoming and accessible.
Adelaide University welcomes this development because it will offer students, in particular those who move here from interstate and overseas, an excellent chance to experience the heart of our city while they settle into university life.
International education brings great benefit to our city and continuing to attract talent from around the state, nation and globe will play an important role in the success of the new Adelaide University.
As put by Senior Pastor Paul Harrington, Trinity Church Adelaide
We see this partnership to develop our site as a wonderful opportunity to enhance our ministry to the people of the City of Adelaide.
This development will place us at the heart of a vibrant university precinct as well as provide an opportunity to redeploy some of our resources into the growing Network of churches we have across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia.
