New office building proposed next to Toowoomba CBD heritage property Clifford House

A new office building has been proposed for the Toowoomba CBD, with the plans based next door to a heritage-listed property.

PROPOSED: Concept art for a new office building on Isabel St in the Toowoomba CBD, which sits next door to the heritage-listed Clifford House.

A financial consulting company has put forward plans for a new office in the Toowoomba CBD, right next to a heritage-listed property.

Aspire Financial Consulting Pty Ltd last week lodged a development application with the Toowoomba Regional Council to build a single-storey office property on Isabel St in Toowoomba City.

According to the report by Precinct Urban Planning, the new building would be used as the business’ main base of operations.

“The subject site is currently vacant with exception of seven sealed carparking spaces located adjacent to the western boundary of the allotment,” the report said.

“The proposal will involve the establishment of a purpose built office building with a total gross floor area of 197 sqm and a building footprint of 255.85 sqm.

“The proposed development will be single storey with a maximum height of 6.3m above natural ground level.

“The proposed development makes provision for a total of 11 on-site carparking spaces, including seven existing spaces, and four new spaces on the eastern side of the site.”

Because the subject land is heritage-listed due to its proximity to the historic Clifford House next door, the application also included a heritage impact report.

Author Extent Heritage found the effects on Clifford House would be minimal if the development was to go ahead.

“The area at the south of Clifford House is vacant and has been subdivided into lots, with the expectation that these lots would be developed in the future,” the report said.

“The proposal for the development of a commercial building on the vacant area is in a location identified to be appropriate for additional buildings and is of little, if any, adverse impact on the culturally significant Clifford House.”

The plan also includes removing one “significant” tree, with an arborist’s report showing the specimen’s condition was too poor to be relocated elsewhere.

Another tree will be incorporated as part of the landscaping for the development.

Since the application is considered “impact assessable”, the matter will be made open to public consultation at the appropriate time.

The council has yet to respond to the proposal.