‘City-shaping’ Albion Exchange development loses ten storeys

The developer behind a $750 million inner northern Brisbane development has been forced to slash the heights of the proposed towers after public objections.

The proposed Albion Exchange.

A “CITY-shaping” $750 million development’s first towers will be up to a third shorter — with 80 fewer units than originally planned — in response to public concern.

Geon Property senior development manager Tim Rossberg said it had re-lodged plans with Brisbane City Council for Stage One of the Albion Exchange.

The Albion Exchange masterplan for a transit oriented development with a significant amount of public open space consists of ten stages that will roll out over the next two decades.

Mr Rossberg said under the re-lodged plans, the first two towers proposed for the site would be 20 storeys and 19 storeys respectively with 253 total units.

The original plan was to have a 30 storey tower and 23 storey tower with 333 units, later revised down to 25 storeys and 22 storeys with 309 units by April this year.

He said even though 70 per cent of submissions during the public consultation phase had been positive, objectors and Brisbane City Council had raised concerns about the height.

“Even though we had that positive community response, we’ve been working very closely with council on the building heights amongst other things to try to get to a resolution,” he said.

An artist’s impression of a building in the Albion Exchange.

“That’s why we’ve really made these significant changes to the design ... we believe we now have design Brisbane City Council should be comfortable approving.”

He said the changes brought the Albion Exchange Stage One into line with 20 storey towers approved across the road at the Albion Mill site.

In line with the overall reduction of the scale of the site, the building footprints will be 10 per cent smaller and parkland would drop from 60 per cent to 54 per cent of the site.

“From the retail point of view, there’s been a slight reduction of retail space,” he said.

“In terms of the residential, we’ve tightened the scheme a little bit ... we’ve been smarter about creating usable space, which has made it more efficient from a cost point of view.”

Mr Rossberg said the significant drop in units meant that Geon Property had to make some “disappointing” cost-saving changes but insisted the vision for Stage One had not changed.

“Albion has been in desperate need of renewal and revitalisation,” he said.

“It’s a dormant suburb at the moment and, being so close to the CBD and on a major public transport node, we see this as a city-shaping project for the northside of Brisbane.”

He said the aim was to break ground by the second half of 2020, although he said even after approval, there needed to be more detailed design and a pre-sale process.

Stage One of the Albion Exchange masterplan includes a $28.7 million upgrade of transport facilities and access to the Albion Train Station.

The masterplan for stages two to ten has also been lodged separately with the Brisbane City Council.

Cr David McLachlan, who has previously expressed his concerns about the Albion Exchange plans, was contacted for comment.

ALBION EXCHANGE MASTERPLAN TIMELINE

September 7, 2018: Albion Exchange Stage One development application lodged

September 12, 2018: Community divided over Albion Exchange Stage One plans

September 20, 2018: Councillor says ‘super-sized’ development not right for city fringe

October 18, 2018: Geon Property lodges grand masterplan for Albion Exchange

December 5, 2018: Developer in talks for education precinct at Albion

January 18, 2019: Albion Exchange Stage One goes to public consultation

April 24, 2019: Grand masterplan for Albion Exchange goes to public consultation