Co-Living Tower Replaces Fortitude Valley Office Plans

Revised plans have been filed for a corner site in inner-city Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley with a proposed 22-storey co-living high-rise replacing an approved office tower scheme.

The reworked mixed-use proposal is earmarked for a 1864sq m holding at 458 Wickham Street and 35 Church Street.

It would comprise 381 one-bedroom co-living units with communal podium and rooftop terraces as well as a ground-floor retail tenancies.

The site is next door to the heritage-listed Fortitude Valley Police Station.

Under the previously approved scheme’s first stage, a four-storey Police Citizens Youth Club already has been developed on a 588sq m portion of the site.

The original approval granted in December, 2020 also incorporated a 14-storey office tower as the second stage.

It was subsequently revised and the proposal slightly increased to 15 storeys in December, 2022 following the $11.5-million acquisition of the site by Canberra-based developer Willemsen Group from Brisbane-based Silverstone Developments.

The latest development rethink—comprising a mix of short-term accommodation and rooming accommodation units—targets a “missing market” in Brisbane, according to the submitted change application documents.

“The co-living segment presents a unique opportunity with respect to Brisbane’s housing crisis through the provision of a housing typology fulfilling a range of identified market needs,” the documents said.

“A co-living building blends private residential spaces with extensive shared areas and offers a regular roster of social events, co-working areas and hotel-like amenities and concierge services.

“This form of residential accommodation is a missing market in Brisbane. The proposal seeks to fill this gap and provide additional accommodation choices for Brisbane residents and visitors.”

The co-living model offers flexible lease terms, fully furnished units and significant shared living as well as communal spaces.

“To ensure that the proposal can meet the changing requirements of this missing market, the applicant seeks dual-use approval for some units, with up to 100 per cent of the rooms (381 rooms) to be utilised for short-term accommodation uses, and up to 73 per cent of the rooms (286 rooms) to be utilised for rooming accommodation uses,” the documents said.

A planning report said the proposed development sought to provide a “revitalised outcome” for the site with reduced tower site cover, increased setbacks and ground-floor activation.

Under the new proposal, carparking has been reduced from 92 to 55 spaces.

The documents also noted that although the Bayley Ward-designed tower was seven storeys higher than the previously approved office scheme, a lower floor-to-ceiling distance meant it was still within the same height in metres.