REVEALED: 20 per cent bigger BMW Fortitude Valley expansion to include business bar

Another up-market car brand has unveiled plans for a mega showroom, bucking the recent trend for caryards to close as more people shop for cars online. It includes a business bar where customers can relax while their EV is serviced. SEE THE PLANS

How the new BMW site would look from Ann and Bridge streets. Image: ERA Architects

Luxury car maker BMW is the latest high-end car dealership to unveil a flashy new HQ, bucking the trend for caryards to close as more people buy vehicles online.

Planners Urbis submitted a development application (DA) to Brisbane City Council for the 20 per cent bigger showroom and service centre, on the site of BMW’s existing building in Newstead in the inner-city.

The three-level showroom would include a business bar and rooftop green space, with opening hours from 7am to 6pm.

The existing building would be demolished. New lunch rooms, workspaces and a roof garden would replace it, as well as the bar, customer showroom, service centre and updated facade.

Carparking would be expanded from the present 164 spaces to 216, with vehicle access to the ground level via Bridge, Constance and Ann streets.

Access to level 1 would be via Constance St.

Aerial Image of BMW site. Image: Nearmap

“Noise emissions from carparking, the workshop and showroom comply with daytime operation at the nearby residential towers,” Urbis said in the Da documents.

“The proposed development relates solely to the refurbishment and redevelopment upgrade of the structures on the site to meet the changing needs of the business operations.”

Council’s planners said at a “pre-lodgement’’ meeting with the proponent that it did not expect any significant impact on traffic and said consolidation of the existing Bridge St driveways was a “good outcome from a traffic viewpoint”.

“The refurbishment of the existing salesroom and the expansion of the warehouse and service centre is relatively supportable from an architectural perspective, as it results in a minor to moderate expansion of the existing facilities using a similar design aesthetic as the existing built form,’’ they said.

How the new BMW site would look from Ann and Bridge streets. Image: ERA Architects

The centre will continue to service conventional vehicles but would be built with electric models in mind.

“To facilitate the proposed refurbishment and redevelopment upgrade, the proposal requires minor demolition to internal components of the building and demolition to external components which are intended to be replaced to reflect an improved, modern design outcome,” Urbis said.

“Demolition of the existing workshop to facilitate a new workshop and car storage facility (is needed) to meet changes to environmental targets and electric vehicle servicing.

“The proposed facility is designed to service the same number of vehicles and is of similar scale to the existing.

“This workshop will continue to perform basic mechanical services for members of the public.’’