Construction work at Nightcliff’s Sea Breeze apartments is set to begin again more than six years after the project stopped, with a plan for 92 three- and two-bedroom apartments in five storeys including commercials tenants, the company has said.

Sea Breeze marketing manager Byron Wauchope told the NT News the Darwin town plan had changed since the project stopped in 2016, so the design had changed.

The plan for the development on the corner of Progress and Dick Ward drives is for 92 three and two-bedroom apartments in five storeys as well as 700sq m in five commercial tenancies.

The NT News reported developer Sunbuild gained final approval in October from the Development Consent Authority.

“The six years between 2016 and 2022 have been a huge period for Darwin. In those six years, we’ve had a local financial crisis, COVID, and our town plan has changed,” he told the paper.

“Last November I looked overseas at what changes COVID and lockdown had made to buying trends and the one big change was the ability to work from home,” Mr Wauchope said.

Mr Wauchope said Sea Breeze will now also include a restaurant, office, shop, beautician and cafe, as well as three levels of secure underground car parking and storerooms for residents, undercover visitor and public car parking, and a secure bike room for 33 bikes with lockers and charging facilities.

“Last November I looked overseas at what changes COVID and lockdown had made to buying trends and the one big change was the ability to work from home,” he said.

“It opened people’s minds to working from home and now we have the technology to back it up.

“There’s a high desire for a secure workplace so we can lock the office and not have pets or kids wandering in.

“We are also looking into electric car charging options to future-proof the building,” he said.

Mr Wauchope said Sunbuild will be keeping half of the apartments as rentals, and thinks residents will be moving in by late next year.

“We’ve got no more soil to cart, it’s just stuff coming up like cupboards, steel and concrete,” he said.

“Basements one and two are in and most of the storerooms are finished. By this time next year, they should be on the market. We’d like to think this time next year people will be moving in.