Hoyts cinema, top retail brands to feature in next stage of Valley Metro renewal project

A multimillion-dollar inner city urban renewal project will feature a cinema in a “dynamic food and entertainment precinct”. SEE THE PICTURES

Aerials of the Valley Metro in Fortitude Valley back in 2006.

CONSTRUCTION will start next month on the next retail phase of a multimillion-dollar urban renewal project that will create a “dynamic food and entertainment precinct” including a Hoyts cinema complex in the Fortitude Train Station precinct.

The $50 million refurbishment of the Valley Metro’s original food court and recent mall extension will attract some of Australia’s top brands to more 30 tenancies.

25 storey Valley Metro split tower with offices, retail, cafe, bar approved in Fortitude Valley

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The retail component of LaSalle Investment Management and Partners Group’s Valley Metro redevelopment will be finished by early 2021 and stretch from the Brunswick St side of the station to the car park at the rear and the ground floor lobby of the extensively refurbished Transport House facing Alden St.

An artist's impression of the Brunswick St entrance to Valley Metro and the Fortitude Valley train station.

LaSalle’s senior vice president of development Simon Juniper said as well as Hoyts there will be a new Woolworths and convenience and dining outlets while a number of current tenants — including Terry White Chemist and My Health — will be relocated to refurbished space.

He said thousands of commuters would have already seen the recently completed phase one retail at the car park entrance which also includes a new parents’ room and refurbished amenities.

Mr Juniper said the next phase will focus on the Brunswick St side of Valley Metro.

“What we have at the moment is a space which I think is very stark and lifeless,” he said.

“We recently finished phase one retail at rear towards the car park and we’ve created a warm inviting atmosphere which we will also create at the Brunswick St entrance.

“With the Hoyts cinema there it will become a seven-day-a-week dynamic food and entertainment precinct and a welcome springboard to Brisbane’s biggest entertainment area, the Valley, for the people who work there by day and play there by night.”

An artist's impression of the retail area of the Valley Metro redevelopment precinct.

Mr Juniper said work would also upgrade the Brunswick St facade of the station entrance with double height canopy entrance will provide a heightened presence.

The $500 million Valley Metro redevelopment, which included two apartment towers in the master plan, kicked off in 2018 with the back-to-concrete refurbishment of the nine-storey Transport House which now has floor-to-ceiling glass facade.

An artist's impression of the refurbished Transport House office building within the Valley Metro precinct.

Completed earlier this year, tenants have committed to one level and speculative office suites have been built on another level of the 9000sq m building which has end-of-trip facilities and a 4.5 star NABERS commitment agreement.

“Where we once had a 1970s block at Valley Metro, this building now represents the fresh contemporary face of the Valley,” Mr Juniper said.

“It is light and bright and built for ongoing environmental efficiency and sustainability.”

Both Valley Metro and the Fortitude Valley station are at the centre of the urban renewal area with an additional 642 apartments are currently under construction across three developments, and another 3733 units in 16 projects proposed.