When buyers desire a green environment but want to be close to the CBD, they usually have to sacrifice one for the other.

However, with the creation of The Newlands, a uniquely designed sustainable development, there is now no need to compromise.

Located south of St Leonards on Sydney's Lower North Shore, The Newlands is part of the sustainable, master-planned revitalisation of the area.

Facing the park, The Newlands benefits from a lush 5700 square metre green spine that runs through the area's masterplan.

Meanwhile, the bustling mini-CBD of St Leonards is just a 10-minute walk away, and two train stations, St Leonards and Wollstonecraft, are just a few stops from the city.

"It's a beautiful collision of real life on the edge of the bush. The whole development is surrounded by trees and greenery native to the area, with raised boardwalks, water features and nature trails," said Jeff Curnow, Director of Development at Top Spring Australia.

Designed by Bates Smart Architects and landscaped by Arcadia Landscape Architects, The Newlands evokes a real sense of the changing trees.

"You can walk out of The Newlands and simply walk down Berry Creek to the harbour, through the dense bush and then turn the corner and see the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House," Curnow said.

While the green is front and centre at The Newlands, it is also home to all the amenities that residents love.

A resort-style outdoor pool, indoor and outdoor gymnasiums, two infrared saunas, a yoga area and private playground are just some of them. There is also a private rooftop dining area that can be reserved for entertaining and showcasing the city views.

Locally, St Leonards has a wealth of amenities including offices, schools and transport. The adjoining suburbs of Wollstonecraft and Greenwich are both within walking distance and offer a well-rounded country lifestyle.

"It's a uniquely convenient location where you can get away from all the hustle and bustle but still be so close to everything," says Curnow.

The perfect combination of greenery and amenities is great not only from a lifestyle point of view, but also from an investment point of view.

Paul Ryan, senior economist at REA Group, said rental prices in the area had increased by 15 per cent in the past year.

"Nationally we've seen rents rise by about 8.7 per cent and in Sydney, generally speaking, rents have risen by about 12.7 per cent over the past year, meaning St Leonards has outperformed both Sydney and the national average," he said.

Ryan said the area's population has also grown by 22 per cent over the past 10 years, further underlining its popularity and confidence in the suburb's future.

"From a lifestyle perspective, Sydney's Lower North Shore is a very attractive place to live. People can get everything they need in one suburb. But it's also a more relaxed and freer place, which appeals to a lot of people," he added.

Because Newlands offers so much for residents to enjoy, Curnow believes they will develop a great sense of community in no time.

"We've had some downsizers move into three-bedroom homes and many of our one- and two-bedroom flats have been popular with first-time buyers and investors.

"Some of our three-bedroom flats and terraces have sold to young families. We can already see that the development will have a relatively high percentage of owner-occupiers," he said.

To help residents make connections, The Newlands community app will connect people to each other and link them to local suppliers offering services such as dog washing or personal training.

"Our goal is to help build a real community where people enjoy living in a built development," says Curnow.

The five medium-density residential buildings have a selection of one-, two- and three-bedroom flats and garden terraces. All three buildings in the first phase are now for sale and are expected to be completed in 2025.

Prices at The Newlands range from approximately $865,000 for a one-bedroom flat to approximately $3.25 million for a three-bedroom flat with a terrace.