Southside townhouse development delayed

The company behind a massive townhouse development on Brisbane’s southside has been forced to change tack after fire claimed the historical centrepiece of their plans.

Plans for a 121-dwelling townhouse development on Brisbane southside approved in 2018 have been delayed by the unfortunate destruction by fire of a World War I-era cottage on the site.

The application, originally for 156 dwellings, at 1191 Beenleigh Rd, Runcorn, situated to the west of Beenleigh Road Park, was lodged on behalf of developer Philip Usher Constructions in January 2016 and approved by Brisbane City Council in June 2018.

Design for 121- dwelling townhouse development at 1191 Beenleigh Rd, Runcorn. Picture: Development.i/ Philip Usher Constructions

The site was improved by two dwellings; one, a circa-1965 brick dwelling which has been demolished to make way for the development; and the other, a circa-1915 timber and tin cottage.

Due to the presence of this cottage, constructed by early settlers to the Runcorn district, William and Anne Arthy, 1191 Beenleigh Rd was included as a place of local heritage significance included in the Heritage Overlay of the Brisbane City Plan 2014 as it “provides evidence of the development of the semirural Runcorn district”.

The c. 1915 cottage at 1191 Beenleigh Rd, Runcorn, prior to its destruction. Picture: Development.i/ Saunders Havill Group.

Under the developer’s original plans, the Arthy’s house “was planned to be restored and retained in its current location as a community centre on the site,” according to a heritage report commissioned by the developer at the behest of BCC.

This would have formed the centrepiece of a communal open space towards the north of the site.

However, a house fire on October 3 put paid to those plans, ripping through the Arthys’ and leaving it “generally unsalvageable and requiring removal”, according to a report on the building’s structural integrity.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services at scene of house fire, Beenleigh Road, Runcorn, Saturday, October 3, 2020 – Picture: Richard Walker

This destruction has forced a drastic rethink of plans, according to a report by planners Wolter Consulting Group submitted to BCC last week accompanying a request to modify the existing approval (A005129498).

“The structure represented a key element of the existing approval, and its destruction and subsequent removal has triggered changes to the development approval, including a heritage interpretation management plan for the site,” the planners said.

The burnt c. 1915 cottage at 1191 Beenleigh Rd, Runcorn. Picture: Development.i/ Wolter Consulting Group.

“The proposed changes seek to ensure the site’s heritage value will be retained and enhanced through other means, despite the necessary removal of a heritage structure due to structural failure.”

In lieu of the restored heritage building, the communal open space will now contain a ‘Heritage Significance Area’ featuring garden edging made from salvaged bricks; timber bench seating made from salvaged timber; feature landscaping of trees and ground covers; and 'History Enriched Signage’ containing “imagery and text describing the heritage (and) provenance of the site”.

Design for townhouses at 1191 Beenleigh Rd, Runcorn. Picture: Development.i/ Philip Usher Constructions

Council is yet to respond to the developer’s updated plans.

According to planning documents, in addition to the 121 dwellings and communal open space towards the north of the development, the site will also provide 20,000 sqm linking Beenleigh Road Park and Persse Road Park.

7700 sqm will also be set aside for a “future road upgrade for the grade separation project for

the Warrigal Road rail crossing”.

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