This article is via iCIRT : https://www.icirt.com/resources-for-property-buyers/scion-how-builder-using-their-icirt-rating-give-confidence-property Buying or renovating a property is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make. Yet, almost four in five Australians are concerned about construction companies failing, which can leave property buyers with an unfinished project and a financial nightmare. To help put the power back in your hands, an independent rating system is available: the iCIRT (Independent Construction Industry Rating Tool) . An iCIRT rating assesses the trustworthiness of builders, developers, architects, engineers, project managers, surveyors, certifiers or any other professional in the construction industry. What an iCIRT Rating Means for Your Property Purchase iCIRT rated Sydney builder and developer, Scion , is a clear example of a business that actively uses its rating to demonstrate its commitment to quality and accountability. Sebastian Jabbour, Operations Director of Scion explains: “Our industry faces so much distrust and so much risk in terms of customers going through bad experiences. The fact that we're iCIRT rated shows that we are transparent; we've got nothing to hide and we're ready to do the right thing by the industry.” The iCIRT rating is based on a rigorous assessment by the independent rating agency, Equifax . It scrutinises a construction business across six critical categories six critical categories - Character, Capability, Conduct, Capacity, Capital, and Counterparties - to determine their ability to deliver a trustworthy built asset. Choosing a builder or developer like Scion, who has achieved an iCIRT rating, gives you a verifiable standard to rely on. Read a case study about Scion getting iCIRT rated: https://www.icirt.com/resources-for-business/icirt-rating-helps-scion-secure-high-value-projects The benefits of choosing an iCIRT rated business 1. Verifiable financial stability The Australian construction sector has seen the highest number of insolvent businesses in the 12 months leading up to the third quarter of 2025. This makes financial stability a major concern for property buyers. The iCIRT assessment addresses this risk by investigating a company's financial strength and resilience. The banks and other funders who lend to developers are increasingly asking about their iCIRT rating because it signals a lower risk profile. In fact, nearly half of NSW lenders now consider iCIRT when assessing loan applications, with 40% of lenders turning down applications if the builder has a poor iCIRT rating or no rating at all. This external validation offers powerful reassurance to you: when major financiers use an iCIRT rating as part of their due diligence, it adds a crucial layer of protection to your investment. 2. Clarity on track record and accountability The rating provides an objective measure of a company’s history, taking the guesswork out of choosing a reliable builder, developer or tradesperson. Scion has found that property buyers are becoming increasingly aware of iCIRT and actively ask about their rated status. Mr Jabbour notes, it's becoming a clear expectation: “It’s becoming a tick box where customers and stakeholders are asking whether there is an iCIRT rated builder on this job.” 3. Commitment to continuous improvement A company that seeks to renew its iCIRT rating annually is committed to continuous operational excellence. The comprehensive iCIRT assessment helps businesses identify areas for improvement. Scion, for instance, used insights from the financial review to formally adopt monthly reviews of key financial health indicators. Choosing an iCIRT rated builder means choosing a business that uses independent scrutiny to refine its internal systems and deliver better outcomes on site. Companies with strong reputations, supported by independent ratings, attract high-calibre professionals. Scion has found that top professionals from other firms are approaching them directly, suggesting the company's trustworthy iCIRT rated status helps it secure the best people to work on your home. Before you buy, ask the question “Are you iCIRT rated”? When you are looking to purchase a new property or hire a construction professional for a major renovation, the simplest step you can take to safeguard your investment is to ask: "Are you iCIRT rated?" An overwhelming 90% of Australians agree that consumers should have access to a register of independently rated, trustworthy construction companies . By choosing an iCIRT rated business like Scion, you are not just relying on a brand name; you are selecting a company whose trustworthiness, capability, and financial health have been independently verified. For more information on how to navigate the Australian property market, download Your Guide to Choosing an iCIRT Rated Construction Professional. Visit the publicly available iCIRT Register to find a builder, developer, or other construction professional who has achieved an iCIRT rating and agreed to share it publicly.

This article is via Urban Digest : https://urbandigest.com.au/ssd-81610714-shop-top-housing-96-anzac-avenue-west-ryde/ A 22-storey shop top housing proposal has been placed on public exhibition in West Ryde, targeting a corner site about 150 metres from the railway station. The applicant has lodged the scheme as a State Significant Development with a concurrent rezoning to amend local planning controls. The proposal seeks to increase the maximum height from 15.5 metres to 80.5 metres and raise the floor space ratio more than fivefold. The development would deliver 145 apartments and 29 co-living rooms, along with a small affordable housing component. As a result, the application brings housing supply, built form and urban design into focus. The assessment will consider whether the proposed scale is appropriate for the town centre and how the project responds to nearby heritage items and the broader public domain. Tower Proposal for Anzac Avenue The application covers a 3,149-square-metre site at 96 Anzac Avenue, currently occupied by a vacant two-storey office building and surface car park. The developer proposes a four-storey podium with a slender tower rising between 18 and 22 storeys. The building would reach RL 98.8 metres, or 80.3 metres above ground. In total, the project would deliver 16,878 square metres of gross floor area, equating to an FSR of 5.36:1. The scheme includes 145 apartments comprising 29 one-bedroom, 92 two-bedroom and 24 three-bedroom dwellings. In addition, it provides 29 co-living rooms across Levels 1 to 3. Four apartments, representing 3 per cent of residential gross floor area, would operate as affordable housing. Whitechapel Community Housing would manage those dwellings for 15 years. At ground level, the proposal includes 609 square metres of retail space fronting Victoria Road and Anzac Avenue. Separate residential and co-living lobbies would improve circulation and wayfinding. Below ground, three basement levels would accommodate 195 car spaces, including 17 accessible spaces. The design also provides six motorcycle spaces, 57 bicycle spaces and a heavy rigid vehicle loading bay. Communal open space totals 842 square metres for residents and 97 square metres for co-living occupants. These areas sit across podium and rooftop levels to maximise outlook and solar access. In addition, the landscape plan delivers 1,040 square metres of planting, including 240 square metres of deep soil. Tower setbacks extend up to 23.5 metres to the north, which the applicant argues will reduce visual bulk and moderate impacts on adjoining properties.