Tag: urban planning

High-Rise Apartment Proposal Lodged For Former Bread Factory In Fortitude Valley

Photo Credit: DA/A006963038

A revised development application has been lodged for a high-rise apartment building at the heritage-listed former bread factory site in Fortitude Valley.

Read: Brisbane Crime Thriller Fortitude Valley Heads to ABC in 2027, With Filming Beginning in April

Application Details For Warry Street Site

The proposal relates to 36 Warry Street within the complex known as The Baker’s Grounds. An associated property at 39 Kennigo Street is also listed.

The development application, numbered A006963038, was submitted on 17 February 2026 and is recorded as in progress. It seeks approval to carry out building work and a material change of use, with the assessment listed at code level. RG Property Pty Ltd is named as the primary applicant, with Urbis Pty Ltd identified as consultant.

apartment proposal
Photo Credit: DA/A006963038

Background Of The Heritage Complex

The brick complex was originally constructed in 1916 as Keating’s Bread Factory. Bread production ceased around the end of World War II.

Parts of the former ovens and stables used for horse deliveries remain on site. The property was listed as a local heritage place in 2004. The site sits between Warry Street and Kennigo Street, about 250 metres from Victoria Park. It is currently used largely as office space under the name The Baker’s Grounds.

Fortitude Valley redevelopment
Photo Credit: DA/A006963038

Revised Tower Plans In Fortitude Valley

Updated plans describe a residential tower containing 100 apartments. The building height has been reported in two different ways, with one account describing 17 storeys and another referring to 20 storeys.

The revised proposal follows an earlier 15-storey scheme approved in December 2024, which was reported as allowing 111 units. The updated plan reduces the residential yield to 100 apartments. Design documentation for the revised proposal has been prepared by DAH Architecture.

heritage redevelopment
Photo Credit: DA/A006963038

Planning Status And Next Steps

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Process milestones include the commencement of the confirmation period on 27 February 2026 and a properly made date of 2 March 2026. A decision notice date is not yet recorded. No construction start date has been confirmed, and existing tenancies continue to operate at the Fortitude Valley site while the application remains under assessment.

Published 3-Mar-2026

How a New Office Tower Could Change the Daily Life of James Street

Photo Credit: DA A006677589

The approval of a 16-storey office tower on Robertson Street is likely to have impacts that extend well beyond the building site itself, reshaping how people move through and use one of Brisbane’s most tightly held inner-city precincts.

Read: Building Height Changes Planned For Fortitude Valley

The $300 million project at 88 Robertson Street (DA A006677589) in December 2025 sits on a former industrial block in Fortitude Valley, a short walk from James Street’s retail strip and near Howard Smith Wharves. While the development adds new commercial space, urban planners say its greater significance lies in how it reinforces the precinct’s shift from a retail-only destination to a mixed-use neighbourhood.

Unlike traditional CBD office towers that empty after hours, the building is designed to bring a steady weekday population into the area, supporting cafés, retailers and hospitality venues beyond the weekend peak. Ground-level shops and a café-focused laneway are intended to link directly into the surrounding streets, potentially increasing foot traffic along quieter edges of the precinct.

The project also includes public-facing elements not typically associated with office developments, including a rooftop restaurant and event space and landscaped areas integrated throughout the building. These features reflect a broader planning trend in Brisbane, where new commercial buildings are increasingly expected to contribute to street life rather than operate as closed corporate environments.

Photo Credit: DA A006677589

For nearby residents and businesses, the development could help stabilise local trade during the working week, particularly as office attendance across Brisbane continues to recover. Industry data shows weekday office use is approaching pre-pandemic levels, prompting renewed interest in inner-city locations that offer walkability, dining and public transport access.

The site is located around 650 metres from the Valley Metro station and sits between established lifestyle hubs, positioning it as part of a growing corridor connecting the CBD to Fortitude Valley’s eastern edge. Urban designers involved in the project say extensive planting and shaded areas are intended to reduce heat and soften the building’s presence at street level, a key concern for residents in high-density neighbourhoods.

Construction is expected to begin in mid-2026, with completion forecast for mid-2028. While the building will introduce additional height and density, its approval signals continued confidence in James Street as a place where people don’t just shop or dine, but increasingly work, meet and spend large parts of their day.

As Brisbane continues to grow, developments like 88 Robertson highlight an ongoing shift in how inner-city areas are being planned — not as single-purpose precincts, but as layered neighbourhoods where work, lifestyle and community activity increasingly overlap.

Read: James St Food and Wine Trail Returns to Fortitude Valley

Published 5-Jan-2025