Two more towers for West End amid fears schools, roads overloaded

Two new unit towers have been proposed for West End, reigniting concerns about the ability of the peninsula’s schools and roads to sustain a stunning building boom.

Two new applications to build residential towers in West End have been lodged with Brisbane City Council, reigniting concerns that the area’s schools and roads could struggle to cope.

Stockwell Development Group has applied to build 78 units in a single, nine-level tower at the corner of Bailey and Kurilpa streets.

The project, designed by Mode Design, would have a communal open lawn space, seating, dining and landscaping on a rooftop floor with sun beds, decked area, pool, outdoor dining area and herb garden.

An existing single-storey warehouse would be demolished for the building, which would have 138 car spaces (12 for visitors) and 78 bicycle spaces in its basement parking.

Artist's impression of the Vulture St project.

Another developer has applied to build 36 units in a seven-level tower at 110 Vulture St, where an existing three storey short-term accommodation building with 44 rooms would be demolished.

Designed by DAH Architecture, there would be 55 car spaces, a plunge pool, lounge and private areas, BBQ area and outdoor dining.

The planners at Mewing Planning Consultants said the project would include large subtropical trees and tiered landscaping that would “contribute to the amenity and character of the street’’.

While relatively small, the two new projects add to a massive building boom across the peninsula which has — or soon will — add at least 2000 units.

The population increase is placing West End State School (WESS) and Brisbane State High School (BSHS) under increasing pressure.

West End State School welcomed just 41 students from outside of its enrolment catchment in 2022.

WESS, which underwent a major building program in recent years, has had to crack down hard on “enrolment fraud’’ by parents living outside its catchment and this year accepted only 41 non-catchment students.

BSHS has nearly half of its students living outside the catchment, but has had to cut back its academic and sporting excellence entry program and even engage private detectives to spy on alleged enrolment “fraudsters’’.

Massive unit projects in the planning for West End include two 16-level and 18-level towers overlooking Davies Park.

But developer Henroth Investments (Manly Properties) said it had greatly scaled back its original proposal to 349 units, less than the Council-approved 434 apartments.

In February, West Village released designs for stages 4 and 5A of its multistage commercial and residential development, which would have 110 and 95 apartments respectively.

How the redesigned The Lanes would look.

Pradella attracted more than 60 formal public objections to the most recent addition to its huge Ferry Rd unit towers, The Lanes, which would have more than 300 units spread across three highrises.

Many of the objections expressed concerns about pressure on West End State School and local roads.

Last week, it was revealed there had been more than 100 objections lodged against Aria Property Group’s proposed multistage highrise development nearby in South Brisbane, next to the Expo 88 Skyneedle.

Artist's impression of the stage 1 tower, showing the Skyneedle (left).

Stage one included a 16-level, 84-unit tower and large car park, but further details of a masterplan for the five-year project were not revealed.

West End Community Association president Seleneah More said WECA was concerned about “trading off’’ height limits for public benefits such as open space.

She said WECA was also still wary about Aria’s plans for a nearby site at Merivale St despite the developer backing away from a 20-level unit tower and submitting plans for a 12-level commercial building.

A short distance away, R&F Properties finished a giant 600 unit, three tower development in 2019 which raised concerns with former Treasurer Jackie Trad and local Councillor Jonathan Sri.