Verso Expands Ripley Town Centre Retail and Homes Plan

Verso Development Group is progressing its revised masterplan for the Ripley Town Centre precinct, launching 94 townhouses and a revised retail plan.

The south-east Queensland developer acquired the 67ha site, 43km south-west of Brisbane’s CBD, late last year after Sekisui House announced it would divest the site in 2023. 

Verso chief executive Steve Laffey said the developer was pushing ahead with the next stages of the $1.5-billion project.

DKO has designed the two and three-level townhouses that will be complemented by a residents’ pool and entertainment areas. 

Laffey said Verso’s construction arm would be taking on the build program. 

The developer is also aiming to add a further 9000sq m of retail to the Ripley Town Centre, which would effectively double the existing offering. 

Laffey said the addition of medium-density housing within the town centre would activate the precinct and enable further stages of residential development to follow. 

“We expect to be in construction early next year with massive demand for housing in south-east Queensland, we will be looking to secure further approvals and to bring more quality homes to market,” Laffey said.

“Our refreshed masterplan brings a renewed focus on open, welcoming spaces, designed with a thriving, family focused community in mind. 

“These changes reflect our commitment to building iconic spaces.”

▲ The Ripley Town Centre retail expansion would double the existing offering.

The retail expansion is expected to incorporate a second supermarket and a club/tavern, as well as large format retail, seeking to create a family-friendly food and beverage destination. 

Verso Development Group is active across Greater Brisbane. 

It is currently developing a house estate at Rochedale and a luxury riverfront apartment tower at Kangaroo Point, next to Shafston House. 

MG Land this year filed plans for 335 townhouses on another parcel of land at Ripley. 

The site in the priority development area, originally slated for a retail complex, is now likely to become a $107-million residential development.

The site 1km south of the Ripley Town Centre and 33km south-west of Brisbane at 770-774 Ripley Road had been slated for a commercial development, including a service station, fast-food outlets and 40,000sq m of retail space.

The area is experiencing rapid growth, with a rail corridor, known as the I2S, proposed to connect Ipswich to Springfield via Ripley.

That project, estimated to cost $2 billion to $3 billion, would include nine stations and could unlock 20,000 new home sites along the corridor.

Meanwhile, 400m south of the proposal site, Stockland’s Providence Ripley is on track to develop 7000 residential lots plus schools and recreational facilities. The masterplan is one of 2025’s biggest projects under way.

And Sekisui House, the developer behind much of the Ripley Valley PDA, has its $500-million masterplanned Ecco Ripley community 1.3km north of the 774 Ripley Road site.