property
Council Grants Major Development Approval Near Newport CBD
A 28-storey mixed-use tower at 45 Harbour View Road cleared planning hurdles on July 7 with 320 apartments and ground-floor retail space.
How we reported this
Newport City Council approved the Harbour View Tower project yesterday, clearing the way for construction to begin on a 28-storey building two blocks from the central business district core.
The decision arrives as Newport faces a documented shortage of 1,800 residential units within a 1-kilometre radius of the CBD, according to the council’s own 2025 housing supply audit. Developers had submitted revised plans three times since January to meet height and parking requirements.
Site and Surroundings
The approved site sits on Harbour View Road directly opposite the Newport Railway Station entrance and one block from the Riverside Promenade. Planners required the ground level to include 1,200 square metres of retail frontage that will face the existing Old Market Square, preserving pedestrian access to the weekly farmers market operated by the Newport Traders Association.
Local detail shows the building will replace a surface car park that served visitors to the Newport City Library on Main Street. The library recorded 142,000 visits last year and council officers cited improved foot traffic as a key reason for support.
Numbers and Timeline
Project documents list 320 apartments ranging from 58 square metres to 112 square metres, with 45 per cent designated as one-bedroom units priced from $385,000. The total development cost is stated at $152 million, with construction scheduled to finish by December 2029. The approval includes a condition that 12 per cent of units must be offered under the council’s Affordable Housing Contribution Scheme for the first five years of occupancy.
Work is expected to start with demolition in September once the developer lodges final engineering drawings. Residents living within 200 metres of the site can register for construction updates through the council’s online portal or attend the next ward meeting scheduled for 14 July at the Newport Community Centre.
This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.