Third Coles mini supermarket planned for Brisbane’s inner-west

Another radical, downsized Coles has been proposed for an inner-west Brisbane area. It could be the third in the area, and one of just a handful in the state.

Coles has submitted plans for what could be its third “mini’’ supermarket in Brisbane’s affluent inner-west, this time in Milton.

The Coles Local, a new concept featuring smaller stores carrying limited product lines, is one of just a handful in Queensland. The concept has proved popular interstate.

A Coles Local at nearby Bardon was rejected by the State Government earlier this year because of traffic safety issues, congestion and impacts on a bus stop.

Developer CB (Qld) Pty Ltd is appealing the decision. The matter was due to have been heard in the Planning & Environment Court last month.

The store would be Coles' third in the inner west if it, and another at Bardon, are approved.

But another Coles Local on the corner of Swann and Moggill roads in Indooroopilly was approved and construction is well advanced.

Milton residents took to Facebook to express sadness that it would replace the much-loved Baroona Rd IGA supermarket, which has been at the site for decades.

But others were excited at the changes.

Significantly, parking on the Baroona Rd frontage would drop from 58 to 43 spaces despite shoppers battling to find a park in peak times.

But there would be 78 spaces within a basement carparking area and 43 in an open car park on the ground level.

The 1671 sqm Coles would be part of an upgrade and extension of the Milton Village shopping centre at 36 Baroona Rd.

An aerial view of the Baroona Rd site.

Designed by Thomson Adsett, which designed the other Coles Local stores, the proposal is for a Coles Supermarket and Liquorland bottle shop. Some other small, existing tenants would go.

Extensions will occur on the ground first levels of the centre, which will be largely unchanged in its form.

Level 1 will accommodate a mezzanine for Coles and there would be new first floor office and medical tenancy tenancies.

The overall height would be three storeys, or 11.7m, on some frontages. The existing shopping centre is two levels high.

Servicing from Wight St and the service bay access would remain but there would be a new dock hoist to improve loading efficiency.

The main access would still be via Baroona Rd.

“The scale of the proposed built form is sympathetic to the surrounding character, while the proposed intensity of uses reflects the demand generated by the surrounding locality,’’ planners Urbis said in the development application.

“Safe and direct pedestrian access is provided from the footpath on Baroona Road to the stores within the centre, without the need to traverse carparking areas.’’

For more details visit Council’s online development application portal, developmenti, and search for 36 Baroona Rd or application number A005846717