Sunland Group has received DA approval to create a visionary new 7,500m2 retail village at the heart of its master planned community – The Lakes at Mermaid Waters. The visionary new retail precinct will be food orientated from a fresh food market hall to cafés, restaurants (including two rooftop restaurants) and bars alongside other retail offerings including wellness and lifestyle.
Construction of The Lanes Retail Village is anticipated to commence in the coming months after Gold Coast City Council approved Sunland Group’s DA to transform four hectares of land into a vibrant leisure-lifestyle retail precinct.
Sunland Group Managing Director Sahba Abedian said the developer was grateful for the opportunity to turn its vision for The Lanes Retail Village into reality.
The Lanes Retail Village will be quintessential Gold Coast with open-air features
“Council’s decision to approve our Development Application is a welcome one and signals an exciting moment in the evolution of The Lakes,” he said.
“Our vision is to create a vibrant community with a strong communal heart and The Lanes Retail Village will embrace residents of The Lakes and fellow Gold Coast residents coming together in an open-air environment that delivers an array of amenities services and offerings within a central village setting. Countless hours have gone into ensuring the ideal design to foster a community-enriching experience at the lakeside location and we are delighted that Gold Coast City Council welcomes the benefits The Lanes Retail Village will bring to our city.” Abedian said.
Embracing a village retail aesthetic, with intricate brickwork and captivating arbours combined with cascading greenery, urban laneways and open spaces The Lanes Retail village will create an atmosphere to celebrate the Gold Coast’s wonderful sub-tropical climate.
The space will be built for the community
Designed by Queensland architectural firm Blight Rayner in collaboration with Sunland Group’s in-house design team, the retail village will feature laneways interwoven with a fresh food market hall, cafés, restaurants, a health and wellbeing precinct, office space and lakeside community green.
A medical centre, pharmacy and allied health services will be mainstays of the health and wellbeing precinct, while a fresh food market hall inspired by the bustling food markets of Europe and showcasing a 7m-high timber ceiling, will incorporate fresh produce, specialty foods and local artisans.
At the centre of The Lanes Retail Village will be the 3,500m2 lakeside Green that has been designed as a community gathering space and will host a range of seasonal events, markets and activities for families.
The Lakes caters for the growing population of the Gold Coast
Abedian said Sunland was now looking forward to working with potential retailers who would benefit from The Lanes Retail Village’s innovative, unique and highly visible location near one of the Gold Coast’s most prominent intersections.
“Along with 750-plus future residents of the adjoining apartments at The Lanes Residences, about 200,000 people will live within a 10-minute drive of The Lanes Retail Village and close to 100,000 cars pass the site daily,” he said.
He said, “Given such numbers, and its central location close to all major infrastructure, it’s no surprise we have already received strong interest from retailers sharing in our vision to be part of the vibrant community we are creating.”
The Lanes Retail Village will complement the neighbouring Lanes Residences, two luxury mid-rise residential buildings that are scheduled for completion mid-2021.
The project, which is the centrepiece of The Lakes master planned community on the corner of Hooker Boulevard and Bermuda Street, is scheduled for completion in late 2022.
