More public space in new plan for $500 million West End apartment development

A DEVELOPER will submit new plans for a former West End riverfront development site that will feature seven apartment towers, a public plaza and community space.

THE Australian arm of a Hong Kong-listed development giant has redrawn the plans for a $500 million West End riverfront apartment project to offer more public accessible space.

R & F Property Australia will seek approval for a new scheme for 1.6ha of land with 200m river frontage between Hockings and Donkin streets.

R & F Property Australia senior development manager Rodney Chadwick said the new masterplan focuses on opening up views through the site to the river and on creating places for people to meet and enjoy the riverside environment.

“The development will create a new architectural and cultural landmark for West End, focusing on public enjoyment and the opportunity to promote and enrich public access along the Brisbane River between Southbank and Orleigh Park,” he said.

An artist's impression of R&F Property Australia's seven apartment tower development on the riverfront at West End.

“Our current plans show a series of public accessible, open spaces comprising of shaded landscaped courtyards, activated laneways and major plaza, spilling down riverside walkway — spaces for pedestrians which are designed to be activated by a range of retail services, dining and community uses.”

The industrial site, which has an existing development approval for seven buildings and 981 apartments, was purchased by R & F in 2016 for $82.5 million from local developer PointCorp.

The company said the development will be staged over six years.

The development will feature retail and dining options.

The new masterplan features:

• seven residential buildings, with almost 40 per cent of the site (9327sq m) for publicly-accessible open space for relaxation and activity within landscaped surrounds;

• it will have about 1032 residential apartments and retail and commercial space;

• reinforcing the east-west public connection from West End to the riverside parkland and the Brisbane River — across Montague Rd and down Hockings St to Riverside Drive;

• it will provide easy, walkable access to central West End and South Brisbane to the south via Mollison St.

R&F Property Australia's proposed development at West End.

Mr Chadwick said the project represented an important opportunity to transform one of Brisbane’s under-utilised inner city former industrial, riverfront sites into a desirable, integrated urban precinct.

“We know that projects like this only succeed with strong community support, and therefore reaching out to the local community is our next priority so that we can work together to deliver a project that the people of West End are happy to embrace,” he said.

R & F will launch its community consultation today and will actively seek out community leaders and groups with whom to discuss matters of local interest and to explore mutually beneficial opportunities.