An affordable housing development at one of Adelaide’s most sought-after city-fringe locations is set to kick off next month.

South Australian builder Hindmarsh will start work 80 affordable rental apartments and four market sale terraces on Third Street at Bowden, directly opposite Plant 4 on one of the few remaining development sites within the Renewal SA precinct.

The 12-storey building will feature a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, including a range of specialist disability accommodation and 1,100sqm of retail and commercial space on the ground and first level.

It will also include four street-level, double-storey lofts with industrial design features and high-end finishes.

The development has progressed since Renewal SA secured funding under Round One of the federal government’s Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF) in July 2025.

“This development will significantly contribute to the inclusivity and housing diversity of Bowden, while extending opportunities for people on lower incomes to live in Bowden,” said Shane Wingard, Renewal SA’s Acting Chief Executive.

“But it’s not just about housing, it’s about creating more infrastructure to enhance and support the existing businesses and community within the bustling Bowden project.”

The development was designed for Renewal SA by ARM Architects, one of Australia’s leading architectural firms, and will be constructed by national builder Hindmarsh, which have a successful history in the precinct with projects including Nightingale, B-Apartments and Arc Bowden, which is currently under construction.

Renewal SA will be seeking a Community Housing Provider to operate the affordable apartments, which will be rented to eligible lower-income tenants at 75% of market rent.

Artist impressions reveal an industrial-style design featuring rustic red bricks covered in greenery, tall peak rooflines, communal rooftop gardens and prominent art-covered walls.

“This development will integrate with and complement the industrial features of Plants 3 and 4 adjacent,” Mr Wingard said.

A total of 221 car parks will be built as part of the complex, with a minimum of 170 publicly accessible.

Designs also include ground floor and mezzanine-level retail or commercial tenancies, a seventh-floor open space garden area for residents and conversations are advancing for the inclusion of an Australia Post parcel locker on the ground floor.

Mr Wingard said Renewal SA continues to listen and respond to the needs of the Bowden community.

“Bowden was designed to be a transport-oriented community for residents, with excellent access to trains, trams, walking and cycling paths, but it has also become a very popular destination to visit,” Mr Wingard said.

“We’re strong supporters of community activations that create a vibrant and welcoming precinct. That’s one of the key reasons Bowden is such a sought-after place to live.

“To support that growth, and to ensure businesses in the area have the best opportunity to grow, we are taking this opportunity to deliver parking as a key part of this project.

“Likewise, residents have wanted easy and regular access to postal services, and we are working to ensure that occurs.”

The project includes redevelopment of the adjacent Field Street Laneway, enhancing a key pedestrian route through the precinct, Plant 4 and nearby train station.

Early concepts show the use of reclaimed bricks salvaged from the site’s former Clipsal factory, repurposed into pathways featuring First Nations artwork, tree canopy and overhead festoon lighting.

Targeting first residents’ occupation in 2027, the development will soon join a large program of construction activity aimed at completing the precinct.

Key project updates include:

• ARC Bowden - Hindmarsh is building 145 apartments across 11 storeys on Park Terrace, with completion targeted for mid-2026.
• Cadence and Tribecca - Two townhouse developments delivering 42 homes, aiming for resident handover before Christmas.
• Muse - A 36-apartment development on Gibson Street started construction this month.
• Uniting on Second - A 70-home affordable apartment complex has reached its construction peak.
• Brompton Gasworks - MAB Corporation will begin delivering the first homes by year-end. The project includes more than 800 homes, 120 Nightingale Housing apartments and a heritage retail precinct.

“You only need to look at the number of cranes at Bowden to realise how much is going on,” Mr Wingard said.

“This final stretch of work at Bowden marks the culmination of many years of planning and building one of the state’s most successful and integrated communities. I’m confident everyone will be pleased with the result.”

Located just 2.5 kilometres from the CBD, Bowden was the state government’s first higher-density urban infill project, commencing in 2008 on the old Clipsal and Origin Gasworks sites. It has since become a multi-award-winning development, setting a new benchmark for urban regeneration in Adelaide.