Developer Boosts Heights in Sold-Out Toowong Project

A developer has taken its approved tower back to planning phase to increase heights and add a further 15 apartments after the $450-million Aviary project quickly sold out.

It’s the second time the State Development Corporation has gone back to the Brisbane City Council this year for changes to the mixed-use precinct on the former Woolworths site at Toowong. 

Earlier this year the developer scaled back neighbouring The Vanda development to reduce density from 154 to 125 apartments with a focus on larger apartment typologies. 

According to planning documents, the tower would increase from 26 to 29 storeys to include an additional nine three-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments, to increase the total 10 per cent. 

Floor-to-ceiling heights have been reduced but the tower will now be in excess of the 25-storey maximum building height in the neighbourhood plan. 

▲ The precinct will create a town centre on the significant site at Toowong.

Planning documents said while the significant Toowong site could accommodate a third tower, boosting building heights would be more appropriate and in line with community expectation. 

“An additional three residential levels within a two-tower mixed-use development, will have less impact upon the amenity of the Toowong Centre and deliver an open-space void at the eastern end of the site and the centre as a whole,” the report said. 

The NettletonTribe-designed precinct for the 8982sq m site is aimed at the owner-occupier market with 18 different floor plan designs on offer that were snapped up in the market. 

The State Development Corporation has sought to create a revised scheme that responded to the “shortage of quality owner-occupier apartments in the Toowong residential market”.

Speaking about the Aviary Residences, State Development Corporation managing director Ross McKinnon said the spacious apartments had incorporated the Covid experience and included expanded living areas. 

“We’ve designed Aviary Residences with owner-occupiers—in particular families and downsizers—in mind and the residential tower will meet the growing demand for high quality, generous apartments with the very best wellbeing and lifestyle amenities,” McKinnon said. 

“We’re also conscious that because of the pandemic, we’re seeing more people spending time at home and opting to entertain guests in their own space, so have featured entertainment areas, study nooks and spacious media rooms in the designs of some apartments.”