George Weston Foods has lodged a major development application to Brisbane City Council for the former Top Taste Bakery site in Kedron, unveiling a master plan to transform the long-standing industrial landholding into a new mixed-use precinct called Bakery Square.
The proposal covers 3.6 hectares fronting Gympie Road and seeks preliminary approval for a variation to Brisbane City Plan that would allow a transition away from its current low impact industry zoning.
The factory was once a familiar feature of Brisbane’s northside, having operated for more than 50 years until its closure in 2020. Since then, the site has been used for warehouse and contractor purposes, but its scale and location have now been earmarked for significant urban renewal. The master plan outlines nine residential towers ranging between 12 and 15 storeys supported by retail, outdoor dining, community facilities, and an expansive urban common designed as the social heart of the precinct.
Urbis, who prepared the planning reports, describe the proposal as a “city-shaping, urban renewal project that will transform vacant industrial land into a vibrant mixed use precinct for Kedron.” The application seeks to set in place a planning framework over the next ten years that would allow staged delivery of the project, with future code assessable applications to refine design and apartment mix while maintaining the parameters of height, land use and public realm established in the master plan.
The proposal highlights a minimum 2,500 square metre urban common as a defining feature, intended as a gathering space for both residents and the wider community. “It will not only serve as a focal point for social and recreational activities for residents but also service the needs of the broader community,” the Urbis report states.
“The space is intended to be flanked by outdoor dining and interact with the ground plane of adjacent buildings.” In addition, landscaped links and a linear park are proposed along the northern boundary, doubling as a stormwater overland flow path and providing a buffer to existing homes.
Project Rundown
| Development Parameter | Proposed Development |
|---|---|
| Address: | 30 Glentanna Street & 474A Gympie Road, Kedron |
| Development Type: | Mixed-use master planned precinct |
| Site Area: | 36,405m² |
| Gross Floor Area (GFA): | To be determined at future development stages |
| Height: | 9 towers ranging between 12 and 15 storeys |
| Apartments: | Multiple dwellings across staged delivery (exact mix to be determined) |
| Elevators: | To be confirmed |
| Communal Space: | Minimum 2,500m² urban common, landscaped courtyards, and linear park link |
| Retail: | Ground-level retail and outdoor dining |
| Car Parking: | City Frame rates due to proximity to high-frequency transport |
| Bike Parking: | To be confirmed |
| Developer: | George Weston Foods Limited |
| Architect: | Not specified |
| Landscape Design: | To be confirmed |
| Town Planner: | Urbis |
| Sustainability: | – Rooftop Solar: Not specified at this stage – Energy Efficiency: Passive design principles to be detailed in future stages – Waste Management: Strategy to be developed at subsequent DA stage – Water Conservation: Incorporation of blue/green infrastructure and overland flow system – Green Landscaping: Linear park and deep planting areas integrated – Active Transport Facilities: Direct pedestrian and cycle connections to Gympie Road and Bradbury Park |
| Date Submitted: | September 2025 |
| Assessment Level: | Impact assessable (Preliminary Approval for Variation Request) |
| DA Application Link: | A006855857 |
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The design is framed around connectivity and permeability, with new streets and pedestrian corridors linking the precinct directly to Gympie Road, Bradbury Park, Gallagher Terrace and Glentanna Street. Vehicular access is planned via a new all-movements signalised intersection at Boothby Street, developed in consultation with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, supported by secondary access points to distribute traffic.
Car parking would be assessed against City Frame rates, reflecting the precinct’s position on a high-frequency bus corridor earmarked for the future Brisbane Bus-Rapid Transit extension.
Height has been a focus of the application, with George Weston Foods seeking approval for towers of up to 15 storeys. Urbis argue this represents an appropriate transition, noting that “the proposed height of up to 15 storeys represents an appropriate transition between other centres and precincts across Brisbane.”
The planning report points to established high-rise development in Chermside, where towers already reach 15 storeys, and recent approvals in Lutwyche to the south with similar heights. By bridging the gap between these nodes, the Kedron site is described as creating consistency along the Gympie Road corridor.
Flood management is also addressed, with engineering consultants Bornhorst + Ward confirming that while the site is not affected by riverine flooding, it is impacted by overland flow in major storm events. Their report states: “The proposed system safely conveys overland flow without causing nuisance or instability elsewhere, thereby achieving compliance with Brisbane City Council’s stormwater management and flood hazard objectives.” The linear park along the northern edge is designed to accommodate this system while enhancing pedestrian amenity.
Beyond its physical characteristics, the DA positions Bakery Square as a strategic catalyst for wider renewal. “Bakery Square is one of the most critical locations to establish a new mixed-use precinct, with significant development uplift, on the northside of Brisbane,” Urbis state. “Individual land holdings of this size are extremely rare in Brisbane, and especially so in prominent, accessible locations such as this.”
The proposal aligns with Brisbane City Council’s Sustainable Growth Strategy and Our Productive City framework, both of which encourage the transition of industrial sites into higher-value residential and mixed-use communities to address the city’s growing housing needs.
George Weston Foods, better known for household brands such as Tip Top, DON and Burgen, has had a long-standing presence in Brisbane’s manufacturing economy. The Kedron factory was once a major employer in the area, producing baked goods distributed across Queensland. Its redevelopment represents a shift from industry to urban renewal, with the site once again playing a significant role in the future of Kedron, albeit in a new form.
The application is impact assessable and will undergo public notification. If approved, the framework would allow for staged delivery of the precinct over the next decade, progressively introducing residential towers, retail streets and public spaces to create a new local hub along Gympie Road. As Urbis note in their submission, the project “celebrates the site’s industrial past while redefining inner-city living through local character and innovation.”
As this was once a tannery also the soil is very polluted so how safe will it be for kids to play once the development is done
The tannery was in Boothby Street I used to walk past it to go to Wavell High.
It’s a good idea to alleviate housing demand (in theory.) We’ll have to wait and see how affordable the units are, but based on the location this isn’t a primo-luxury-unit-overlooking-the-city site. This just might have found a balance point between affordable housing and usable public transport.
Especially if the Metro North plans roll out in the near future: that’s a direct rapid-transit service right at your door, that goes straight into the city (and directly to Westfield Chermside.)
Wouldn’t worry about contaminated land -the site will likely need to be assessed and treated as part of the development application. Plus with those many buildings and apartments, it’s all going to be 2 to 3 storey basement excavations to fit carparking.