New towers to dominate Indooroopilly skyline if plans get the nod

A new four-tower development could soon dominate Indooroopilly’s skyline after developers lodged plans with Brisbane City Council on Friday.

Keylin Riverview hopes to build the four towers – the tallest almost 104 metres – on the 6332-square-metre site, which currently houses low-rise units and businesses.

An impression of the development proposed for 30-44 Station Road, 11 Riverview Terrace and 12 Foxton Street in Indooroopilly.Credit: Jackson Teece architects

This would add 478 units to the area’s stock, 44 of them for short-term accommodation.

To build the two 21-storey and two 15-storey towers, Keylin Riverview will have to convince the council to amend the site’s zoning to allow the mixed-use development.

In an assessment report submitted to the council, town planners Mewing Planning Consultants made the case to do just that.

“The heart of Indooroopilly focused between the train station and Indooroopilly shopping centre has seen very limited redevelopment in recent years and currently presents as an underutilised main street with abundant potential,” Mewing says.

Street view of the proposal’s Station Road frontage.Credit: Jackson Teece architects

“With the site occupying a large parcel of land directly fronting the high street of Station Road, the potential to revitalise the Indooroopilly centre ... is significant.”

Mewing says the development would predominantly comprise build-to-rent units “to meet market demand in the area and offer a more broadly accessible option than saleable units”.

Build-to-rent has been a growing trend in Brisbane since the Queensland government announced a series of tax concessions for developers to build such rental projects.

These would account for 388 of the 434 units proposed for long-term residents, 39 of which would be retained for affordable housing. All up there would be 206 one-bedroom, 200 two-bedroom, and 28 three-bedroom long-term units.

For the additional 44 short-term units, 24 would have one bedroom, 18 two bedrooms, and two three bedrooms.

Mewing says the build-to-rent units would be centrally managed.

“Further to this, a number of units will be offered as affordable housing intended under the Housing Investment Fund, enabling a wider range of low- to middle-income earners to access property and live in the centre of Indooroopilly.”

The Queensland government’s $2 billion Housing Investment Fund aims to increase the availability of social and affordable housing in the state.

Basement car parks for 674 vehicles, including electric charging stations, would also be provided, along with space for 595 bicycles.

If approved and built, the development would include 1783 square metres of retail, commercial and community uses fronting Station Road and Riverview Terrace.

According to Mewing’s document, the developers met with the council several times over the past two years, during which the building heights were “not identified as concerns” by the council’s Independent Design Advisory Panel.

“The IDAP generally commended the podium design and its interface to the street frontages, however provided comments on its overall scale, interaction of retail frontages and provision of shade to the street,” Mewing says in its assessment report.

Because the plans did not meet the council criteria for the site, they were considered “impact assessable” and are open to public submissions, both for and against the proposal.