Builder-Developer Boots Up at Newstead with Tower Plans

The rise of Brisbane’s inner-city Newstead as a high-density residential precinct is continuing with new plans filed for an 18-storey apartment tower. Builder-developer BPG Developments is behind the mixed-use proposal that comprises 131 units sitting above a ground-floor retail tenancy. It is earmarked for a 2428sq m site at 16-22 Maud Street, next to the 1889-built former Goldsworthy and Perkins Boot Factory—also known as the Federal Boot Factory—a remnant of the first wave of industrial development at Newstead. The scheme designed by Plus Architecture pays homage to its heritage neighbour and the suburb’s industrial history by “referencing its iconic archways and tactile brick materiality”. “The Newstead locality is currently undergoing a substantial transformation,” a planning report said. “The site relevantly sits within an evolving policy environment. Notably, Brisbane’s Inner City Strategy identifies Newstead as a ‘priority precinct’, which intends to unlock opportunities for high-density housing to meet current and future population forecasts. “The area is consequently and progressively developing with highrise residential development outcomes.” In October last year, billionaire Super Amart founder John Van Lieshout’s Unison Projects was given the green light for a 14-storey tower comprising 46 apartments at neighbouring 8-14 Maud Street. The plans included the adaptive reuse of the old boot factory for non-residential uses. ▲ Renderings of the tower proposal for 16-22 Maud Street, Newstead. According to the planning documents lodged for BPG’s proposal at 16-22 Maud Street, the site—occupied by three warehouse buildings—is “currently underutilised in an evolving and burgeoning inner-city precinct”. “The site is exceptionally positioned to contribute to the creation of a vibrant development that offers a diversity of residential living opportunities and positively contributes to the visual amenity and character of the area,” it said. Overall, the tower proposal accommodates 85 two-bedroom and 46 three-bedroom apartments—including five affordable housing units available for low-to-moderate income renters. “The proposed residential breakdown delivers a diverse housing product to cater for different needs, budgets and living arrangements within a highly sought after inner-city location,” the documents said. ▲ The heritage former Goldsworthy and Perkins Boot Factory (right) and a rendering of BPG Developments’ neighbouring tower proposal. Capping the proposed tower, a rooftop communal recreation terrace spanning 1032sq m would feature a pool, sunlounge area, gym, yoga lawn, cold plunge pool and sauna, steam room, barbecue and outdoor dining area. “These spaces create the ultimate retreat from the urban streetscape,” a design statement said. “Meanwhile, the ground floor retail tenancy and lush, planted public gathering spaces establish Maud Street as a new urban location for Newstead.” Landscaped areas totalling 955sq m are planned across the proposed development, including podium and facade planters with spilling plants over the building edge. Parking spaces for 172 cars would be provided across two basement levels and the ground floor as well as storage for 142 bicycles. In March, Brisbane-based BPG Developments—led by Nick Parr and Glen Williams—also lodged plans on the Gold Coast for a 14-storey tower comprising 68 apartments as well as three integrated double-level townhouses. The proposal is slated for a 1760sq m site at 1053-1055 Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach that backs on to the exclusive beachfront Jefferson Lane enclave. It marks BPG’s return to the development hotspot after a few years of basking in the sell-out success of its nearby nine-storey, 39-apartment Sable on Palm project.

Residential
Phil Bartsch
Fri 16 May 25

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ResidentialPhil BartschFri 16 May 25

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Residential
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Fri 16 May 25