The TESLA Purpose Built Facility project involved the planning and approval of a major advanced manufacturing, vehicle servicing and showroom development within the Tonsley Innovation District, which supports TESLA’s expanding operations in South Australia.
The development comprises two integrated facilities that form a cohesive employment and innovation hub. A specialised Remanufacturing Facility supports the testing, repair, renewal and repurposing of TESLA battery systems and charging infrastructure, contributing to circular-economy objectives. This is complemented by a Service, Support and Delivery facility incorporating a showroom, delivery area, and servicing and repair centre. Together, the facilities deliver approximately 6,900m2 of built form, supported by integrated parking, loading, internal circulation and landscaping, with a layout designed for the safe and efficient operation of both passenger and heavy vehicles. The proposal aligns with State and local objectives for clean energy, innovation and employment, reinforcing Tonsley’s role as a leading cleantech and advanced manufacturing precinct.
Holmes Dyer provided end-to-end planning, statutory and governance support across multiple approval pathways. This included progressing an unsolicited proposal process for Council land acquisition, leading the Community Land Revocation process, and preparing a complex performance-assessed Development Application under the Planning and Design Code. The role involved coordinating multidisciplinary inputs, preparing assessment documentation and advocating the proposal through relevant authorities.
Key considerations included compliance with Strategic Innovation Zone provisions, addressing site contamination, managing traffic and heavy vehicle access, tree retention and removal with replanting, stormwater and civil infrastructure coordination, and achieving high-quality built form outcomes. Sustainability principles were embedded throughout, reflecting TESLA’s net-zero and decarbonisation objectives.
Once constructed, the facility will support approximately 100 ongoing local jobs across advanced manufacturing, technical and customer roles. The project delivers significant private investment, strengthens the State’s renewable energy and EV ecosystem, and demonstrates effective coordination of land, governance and planning processes to enable strategic economic development.
