Building approvals, live development applications and major projects across the
Charles Sturt statistical area — covering Charles Sturt and West Torrens.
SA3 40401Greater Adelaide128,887 residents8 statistical areas
1 Proposed597applications in assessmentLeading · to August 2026See applications ↓
2 Approved1,350dwellings approved in 2025-26, or 1.11 per 100 existing dwellings a yearOfficial · ABS to August 2026See approvals ↓
3 Building35major projects committed or under construction, 17 of them already on siteForward · completions to 2030+See projects ↓
4 Delivered3,318new addresses verified since the 2021 Census, up 6.2% on the existing baseActual · to August 2026Where it landed ↓
In the 2025-26 financial year the ABS recorded 1,350 dwelling approvals across Charles Sturt. Right now, 597 development applications are before the 2 councils covering the area. AreaSearch tracks 35 major projects here that are committed or under construction, the largest being St. James, Kidman Park at an estimated $1.30bn. On the ground, 3,318 new addresses have been verified since the 2021 Census — growth of 6.2% on the existing address base.
These four figures are deliberately not added together. An application, an
approval and a project under construction are often the same building at three points in its life,
measured by three different bodies with three different lags. Read them as a sequence, not a total.
ApprovedBuilding Approvals in Charles Sturt
What councils and certifiers have formally
permitted — the ABS series, published about four months in arrears.
Approvals are running at 1.11 per 100 existing dwellings a year, above the South Australia rate of 0.78. The mix is genuinely split — 42% of recent approvals are detached houses and 58% are attached or higher-density dwellings. That is a clear shift toward density — the five-year average is 51% houses. Detached houses make up 66% of the homes already standing here but only 51% of the past five years of approvals, so the area is densifying. The average approved dwelling is valued at $402,000 in construction cost.
For its size, Charles Sturt is adding 1.11 dwellings a year per 100 existing homes — above the South Australia rate of 0.78 and the national rate of 0.71. That is about 8.4 approvals a year for every 1,000 residents. Building intensity has been broadly stable across the published series.
Measured against people rather than housing stock, Charles Sturt is approving 10.61 dwellings a year per 1,000 residents — above the South Australia rate of 7.94. The two rate views differ by household size, which here averages 2.5 people per home. Housing the projection to 2041 would need about 3.87 per 1,000 residents a year.
Dwelling approvals a year per 100 existing
homes, with South Australia and Australia for comparison. This is the
same activity as the totals view, divided by the size of the area — which is the only
fair way to compare a large SA3 with a small one.
Dwelling approvals a year per 1,000
residents, each year divided by that year’s estimated resident
population (ABS ERP at 30 June), not by today’s — which matters most in fast-growing
areas, where a fixed denominator can understate the early years by half. The most recent periods use the latest published ERP, as the population series runs a year behind approvals. Read it alongside the per-100-homes view: the two differ wherever household size does.
Dwelling units approved each financial year. The dashed line is the five-year average of 1,085.
How intensively is it building?
Dwelling approvals a year per 100 existing dwellings.
Charles Sturt1.11
South Australia0.78
Australia0.71
What is here, and what is coming
Detached houses as a share of existing homes,
against the share of recent approvals.
Existing homes (2021 Census)66%
Approved, last 5 years51%
Approved, latest year42%
Detached housesApartments, townhouses & other
Approvals mix by year
Share of each year’s approvals.
2023
2024
2025
2026
2025-26
$633m
Residential work approved
2025-26
$527m
Commercial work approved
construction cost
$402,000
Average value per approved dwelling
last two years
90
Residents per approval
Supply & DemandIs Charles Sturt Building Enough Homes?
The same approvals, measured against the population
they have to house.
Charles Sturt approves about 8.4 new dwellings a year for every 1,000 residents. Since the 2021 Census it has added 10,445 residents and 3,318 new addresses, roughly one new home per 3.1 extra residents — broadly in step with an average household of 2.5. Housing the population projected for 2041 implies roughly 498 new dwellings a year from here, which puts the recent approval rate of 1,085 a year comfortably ahead of what the projection needs.
Growth against supply since the Census
People added for every new address verified,
against the size of an average local household.
People added per new home3.1
Average household size2.5
A bar longer than the household average means
the area gained more residents than its new housing could hold, and the extra had to be
absorbed by existing homes.
Approval rate against projected need
Dwellings a year: what is currently being
approved, against what the 2041 population projection implies.
Approved (5-yr average)1,085
Implied need to 2041498
Implied need assumes the average household stays
at today’s 2.5 people. Approvals are not
completions, and not every approval is built.
What is being asked for right now — applications
collected from council planning portals, before any of it reaches the ABS series above.
AreaSearch tracks applications of material scale; routine minor works such as signage and
fencing changes are not carried, so these are not counts of every application lodged. 59
of them carry an AreaSearch analyst assessment — look for the
Analysed marker in the search below.
AreaSearch tracks 5,611 development applications of material scale lodged with councils across Charles Sturt, the most recent in August 2026. 597 of them are still in assessment. The most common types in the queue are multi-residential, commercial and retail. Live applications account for about 46 proposed dwellings.
Number of applications by development type. This is the clearest
single picture of what kind of place Charles Sturt is being asked to become. Councils in
South Australia do not publish an estimated cost of works in
their planning feeds, so applications here are counted rather than valued. A further 135 applications sit across
4 smaller categories,
too few to plot.
Where the applications stand
As reported by the council. Highlighted rows are
applications still in assessment.
Decision Made822
Under Assessment786
On Exhibition4
historic_body_parse1
193 applications are still marked under
assessment but were lodged more than
18 months ago. Councils often leave determined or
abandoned applications open in their feeds, so
they are counted here but excluded
from the live queue above.
A further 3,998 applications carry no status in the council feed.
By local government area
Applications on record within each council area that
overlaps Charles Sturt. This counts applications inside this
statistical area only — it is not a total for the council.
Charles Sturt5,603
Recent applications in Charles Sturt
By the number of dwellings proposed, as lodged. Figures are the applicant’s own and are not verified by AreaSearch.
Construction of 12 detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement (mix of 2 and 3 storeys).Woodville - Cheltenham · Under Assessment · lodged May 2026
12 dwellings
Four two-storey detached dwellingsHenley Beach · Under Assessment · lodged Jun 2026
4 dwellings
Construction of a two-storey dwelling and two two-storey group dwellingsHenley Beach · Under Assessment · lodged Jun 2026
3 dwellings
One double-storey detached dwelling and two double-storey group dwellingsSeaton - Grange · Under Assessment · lodged Jun 2026
3 dwellings
Three two-storey detached dwellings in a terrace arrangement and removal of a regulated treeBeverley · Under Assessment · lodged Jun 2026
3 dwellings
Variation to DA 23023578 for two residential dwellings including height, setback, and pool changesWest Lakes · Under Assessment · lodged Jul 2026
2 dwellings
Construction of two single-storey detached dwellingsFlinders Park · Under Assessment · lodged Jun 2026
2 dwellings
Variation to an approved development for two dwellings, including layout changes, a swimming pool, and facade alterationsWest Lakes · Under Assessment · lodged Jun 2026
2 dwellings
BuildingFORWARDMajor Projects & Infrastructure in Charles Sturt
What is funded and moving — the projects large enough
to change how Charles Sturt works, ranked by committed value and how close
they are to delivery.
AreaSearch tracks 35 current projects across Charles Sturt. The largest is St. James, Kidman Park at an estimated $1.30bn, due by 2027. That breaks down as 17 under construction, 6 approved and awaiting a start and 12 still in planning. The pipeline is weighted toward residential development, transport & logistics and sports & recreation.
Under construction$1.30bnby 2027
St. James, Kidman Park
An 11 hectare masterplanned residential community by Fairland on the former Metcash distribution centre site. The project will deliver more than 430 homes including detached houses, terraces and apartments…
Novo West Lakes is a master-planned community situated on the former SA Water wastewater treatment site. Developed by Potentia, the project delivers up to 500 residential properties including townhouses…
Grange Road, Holbrooks Road and East Avenue Intersection Upgrade
Major realignment and upgrade of the Grange Road, Holbrooks Road, and East Avenue intersection to remove a notorious dogleg. The project involves widening Grange Road, creating a four-way intersection to…
West Lakes Shore Masterplan Residential ReleaseUnder construction · Residential Development · by 2026 · West Lakes
$85m
Seaton Urban Renewal ProjectUnder construction · Precincts & Urban Renewal · by 2035 · Seaton - Grange
$425m
Bowden Final Development ParcelsIn planning · Precincts & Urban Renewal · by 2027 · Hindmarsh - Brompton
$400m
Sentinel Build-to-Rent Project (Bowden)Approved · Residential Development · by 2028 · Hindmarsh - Brompton
$100m
Estia Health FindonUnder construction · Health & Medical · by 2026 · Flinders Park
$42m
Westfield West Lakes Mixed-Use DevelopmentIn planning · Communities, Precincts & Urban Renewal · by 2032 · West Lakes
$1.00bn
Findon Energy Storage FacilityIn planning · Energy · by 2027 · Flinders Park
$95m
St Clair Village Stage 6 & 7In planning · Residential Development · by 2029 · Woodville - Cheltenham
$85m
West Lakes Tennis Club RedevelopmentUnder construction · Sports & Recreation · by 2026 · West Lakes
$7m
Grange Lakes Corridor Shared Use Path (Stages 7, 8 & 9)Under construction · Sports & Recreation · by 2027 · Seaton - Grange
$6m
Charles Sturt Playground Renewal ProgramUnder construction · Parks, Sport & Recreation · by 2026 · Woodville - Cheltenham
$3m
West Lakes Marina UpgradeIn planning · Ports, Marinas, Fisheries & Aquaculture · by 2026 · West Lakes
$45m
20 further projects in
Charles Sturt are not listed here.
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as
definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other
investigations from the project’s source for actual imagery. Developers and
project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact
Us and we will do so.
Beyond 2030:
a further $1.43bn across
2 projects with completion dates further out — mostly precinct-scale programs whose dates are
indicative. Kept out of the chart so the years you can act on stay readable.
Estimated value of tracked projects by the year they are due to
complete, stacked by how certain they are. The dark band is money already being spent;
the pale band is still an intention. Estimates are indicative and mix infrastructure
cost with whole-of-precinct development value, so read the shape rather than the totals.
Approvals PipelineDevelopment Applications in Charles Sturt
Development applications around
Charles Sturt
Development approvals is a new addition to AreaSearch.
We’re actively expanding council coverage and refining the dataset — details and statuses for some councils may be partial. Check back regularly for the latest pipeline.
Applications
—
In the local catchment
Est. Value
—
Where disclosed
Under Assessment
—
Awaiting determination
Determined
—
Approved or decided
Approvals pipelineStatus, location, timing and project scale
Loading development applications…
Lodged
Address
Description
Type
Distance
Status
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
ProfessionalPRODevelopment Map for Charles Sturt
Applications and major projects plotted where
they are actually proposed, with the
59 projects AreaSearch tracks here on their own tab — filterable by type, delivery stage,
area and committed value. To search every application on record rather
than this sample, use the section above.
DistributionWhere Development Is Happening in Charles Sturt
Charles Sturt covers 8 statistical areas, and development is not spread evenly between them. The busiest was Flinders Park with 271 approvals in 2025-26. The top three between them took 52% of the total.
Approvals per 100 existing homes in
2025-26, by statistical area, with the Charles Sturt figure marked. Ranked
rather than stacked: rates cannot be added together.
Approvals per 1,000 residents in 2025-26,
by statistical area, against each area’s own estimated resident population, with the
Charles Sturt figure marked. A small area building hard is invisible in
the totals view and obvious here.
Dwelling approvals each financial year, split by the statistical area they
fell in. Each column totals the whole Charles Sturt figure from the
approvals chart above — SA2s nest exactly inside an SA3, so the two always reconcile.
Tap or click an area in the legend to hide it and compare the rest.
The smallest 3 areas are
grouped as one band.
Map builder
Each area below opens a map builder on its own page — a tool for
putting a map and a table into a report. Pick the place types you want plotted
(schools, supermarkets, medical, child care, transport and the rest of what
AreaSearch holds), add development applications as their own layer, drop your own
points, then recolour, renumber and export the result as a table or CSV.
A this area only toggle clips everything to the boundary you are looking at.
Searches are charged against your credit balance — 1 credit per 40
results from AreaSearch data — and setting filters costs nothing until
you search. The builder works on one suburb-sized area at a time, which is why it
opens per area rather than across the whole of
Charles Sturt.
Planning AuthoritiesCouncils Covering Charles Sturt
Charles Sturt spans 2 local government areas — Charles Sturt and West Torrens. Applications here are assessed by whichever of those councils the site falls within. AreaSearch publishes development
figures at ABS statistical boundaries rather than council boundaries. That is deliberate: the ABS
issues a separate official building-approvals series for local government areas, and totals
built up from statistical areas would not match it. Reporting at SA3 keeps every figure on this page
reconcilable with the published ABS series.
Local government area
Share of Charles Sturt
Applications on record
Register read to
Charles Sturt
100% of residents
5,540
August 2026
West Torrens
0.0% of residents
6
June 2026
CompareNearby Development Hubs
The same view of building approvals, applications and
major projects for areas neighbouring Charles Sturt.
Collected from council planning portals. The
earliest signal available, but the least certain: many applications are amended,
withdrawn or refused, values are the applicant’s own estimate, and coverage
varies by council. This is a curated set, not the full council feed:
AreaSearch carries applications of material scale and does not track routine minor
works such as signage, fencing or small alterations, so the counts here are lower
than a council’s own total lodgement figure and should not be compared with it. Applications still shown as under assessment more than
18 months after lodgement are reported separately
and kept out of the live-queue figures: the age profile of open applications is
sharply split between a genuine queue under a year old and a long tail of records
councils never closed. Not every state publishes a cost of works — Queensland,
the Northern Territory and the ACT publish none at all — so on those pages
applications are counted rather than valued and no dollar figure is shown
rather than a partial one. Treated here as a snapshot of the current queue only —
AreaSearch does not chart application counts over time, because the history
reflects when each portal was collected rather than when development happened.
Approved — ABS building approvals
The official series, aggregated to SA3 from
ABS building approvals data, currently published to August 2026.
Counts dwelling units approved, not buildings and not completions. The most recent
financial year is annualised from nine months of data wherever it appears and is
labelled as such.
Building — major projects
Projects tracked individually by AreaSearch
from Infrastructure Australia, state infrastructure agencies, developer disclosures
and council records. Values are estimates and delivery dates are targets. Ranked on
this page by committed value and delivery stage rather than by distance.
Delivered — verified new addresses
New residential addresses verified in the national
address register since the 2021 Census. This is the closest available measure of what has
actually been built, though address creation can lead occupation and lags
construction. It is not a completions count.
Boundaries
Charles Sturt is Statistical Area Level 3 40401 in the ABS Australian Statistical Geography Standard (2021 edition), made up of 8 Statistical Areas Level 2.
It has an estimated 128,887 residents, +8.8% since the 2021 Census.
Currency
Measure
Source
To
Dwelling approvals, five-year average
ABS / AreaSearch
July 2026
House share of approvals
ABS / AreaSearch
July 2026
Residents per approval
ABS / AreaSearch
July 2026
Value per approved dwelling
ABS / AreaSearch
July 2026
Commercial work approved
ABS / AreaSearch
July 2026
Verified new addresses since the Census
Address register / AreaSearch
August 2026
Development applications
Council planning portals
August 2026
Major projects
Infrastructure Australia / state agencies / AreaSearch
Ongoing
Figures on this page are read live from the
AreaSearch database each time it loads, so they update as soon as a source does.
Development in Charles Sturt — common questions
How many new dwellings were approved in Charles Sturt?
The ABS recorded 1,350 dwelling approvals across Charles Sturt in the 2025-26 financial year, against a five-year average of 1,085 a year.
How many development applications are lodged in Charles Sturt?
AreaSearch tracks 5,611 development applications of material scale across Charles Sturt — routine minor works such as signage and fencing are not included, so this is not a count of every application lodged, of which 597 remain in assessment. Applications are assessed within the Charles Sturt and West Torrens local government areas. The most recent application in our data was lodged in August 2026.
What major projects are planned for Charles Sturt?
AreaSearch tracks 35 current major projects in Charles Sturt, 17 of them under construction. The largest include St. James, Kidman Park, Novo West Lakes Stage 2 and Grange Road, Holbrooks Road and East Avenue Intersection Upgrade.
Which council covers Charles Sturt?
Charles Sturt is an ABS Statistical Area Level 3. It is covered by parts of 2 local government areas — Charles Sturt and West Torrens. AreaSearch publishes development figures at ABS statistical boundaries rather than council boundaries, so they reconcile with the official ABS series.
Is Charles Sturt growing faster than the rest of South Australia?
On development approvals, Charles Sturt is adding new dwellings faster than South Australia as a whole — 1.11 approvals per 100 existing dwellings a year against the state figure of 0.78.
How current is this development data?
ABS building approvals are published with a lag of roughly four months; this page carries the series to August 2026. Development applications are collected from council planning portals and refresh continuously, with the most recent application here lodged in August 2026. Major project records are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Each section carries its own currency label so the four are never confused.
Development data is provided for general information.
Estimated values, dwelling counts and delivery dates come from the lodging or delivering party and
are not independently verified by AreaSearch. Confirm anything material with the relevant council
or agency before relying on it.
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as
definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other
investigations from the project’s source for actual imagery. Developers and
project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact
Us and we will do so.