A new mixed-use development at 257 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove has received development approval from Brisbane City Council. Proposed by builder & developer Cielo Group, the four-storey centre development comprises a combination of retail, hospitality, health and commercial uses, including a rooftop terrace and basement parking across four levels.
Originally submitted in November 2024, the application has now been approved subject to a series of conditions that address site access, servicing, landscaping, and stormwater quality. The site occupies a strategic position on the corner of Waterworks Road, Memorial Avenue and Stewart Place within the Ashgrove Village Precinct of the Ashgrove-Grange District Neighbourhood Plan.
The approved design includes ground-level tenancies for a 1,777.9m² supermarket and food and drink outlets, upper-level gym and office or function facilities, and a rooftop level hosting a mix of recreational and commercial uses.
Although the rooftop includes enclosed spaces, Brisbane City Council accepted the rooftop as a “rooftop garden” under City Plan provisions, meaning it does not contribute to the building’s storey count due to its open-air and landscaped format.
The rooftop contains a swimming pool and pool terrace which form part of the gym tenancy below, alongside two commercial tenancies intended for use as either a bar or food and drink outlet. These will be open to the public and are complemented by breakout seating and landscaped edges, including green wall elements. The design seeks to activate the rooftop as a social and recreational space, with lift and stair access connecting it to the levels below.
Vehicle access, previously spread across all three frontages, will be consolidated solely to Memorial Avenue under the conditions of approval, removing existing crossovers from Waterworks Road and Stewart Place. This change aims to improve pedestrian safety and traffic efficiency in the area, aligning with Council’s transport planning objectives.
| Development Parameter | Proposed Development |
|---|---|
| Address: | 257 Waterworks Road, Ashgrove |
| Development Type: | Mixed-use development |
| Site Area: | 2,738m² |
| Gross Floor Area (GFA): | Over 7,000sqm dedicated to premium health and wellness |
| Height: | 4 storeys / approximately 25 metres |
| Elevators: | 2 elevators |
| Communal Space: | A rooftop pool terrace and bar is planned |
| Retail: | Ground level supermarket and food & drink outlets |
| Car Parking: | 238 spaces (across four basement levels) |
| Bike Parking: | 85 spaces (48 secure, 37 visitor) |
| Developer: | Cielo Group / Ashgrove Precinct Pty Ltd |
| Architect: | ZArchitects |
| Landscape Design: | LAUD Ink |
| Town Planner: | Town Planning Alliance |
| Sustainability: | – Rooftop Solar: No rooftop solar proposed for communal building energy consumption – Energy Efficiency: Passive design features including sun shading, double glazing and window screening for thermal comfort – Waste Management: Dedicated refuse room with waste compactor and baler; no dedicated recycling chute or diverter, recyclables to be manually transported to basement by building management – Water Conservation: Stormwater treatment and quality management system in accordance with OSKA Civil’s SBSMP – Green Landscaping: 6.7% deep planting at ground level and 15.2% of rooftop designated as green space, including a green wall facade and rooftop planters – Active Transport Facilities: 85 bicycle parking spaces (48 secure, 37 visitor); improvements to pedestrian public realm along Memorial Avenue |
| Date Submitted: | 1 November 2024 |
| Assessment Level: | Code assessable |
| DA Application Link: | A006642297 |
A website has been established for the approved ILE Ashgrove development, featuring architectural visuals. The site introduces the project with the tagline “An Urban Paradise. Coming to Ashgrove,” reflecting the intended mixed-use character of the development.
The approval includes several development conditions:
- Compliance with submitted stormwater quality management plan prepared by OSKA Civil Consultants
- Landscape works to integrate the building frontage with Memorial Park, adjacent to the site
- Inclusion of a dedicated refuse area with compactor and baler, although without a recycling chute
- Measures to control fire ant spread and meet biosecurity requirements during construction
Under the District Centre zoning and Ashgrove Village Precinct provisions, the project aligns with the intent to support a diverse mix of uses with a high level of architectural design quality. The approved site plan, prepared by ZArchitects, shows deep planting of 6.7 percent at ground level and additional green planting on the rooftop, including a green facade component.
The development also had to respond to overlay constraints including its proximity to an Energex substation and its location within multiple environmental and transport noise corridors.
I’ll never understand how developers are able to remove what appears to be Heritage buildings without any council pushback. Money talks I guess .
Aden, which heritage buildings are you talking about? The Midas trye and auto centre on Waterworks Rd, or the two existing residential houses?
I wouldn’t be surprised if the residential houses are ‘relocated’ (i.e. placed on the back of a truck and dumped in a commercial yard somewhere in Myrteltown or Burpengary.)
The real crime will be the demolition of those existing mature fig trees along Memorial Avenue.
The drawings show the existing trees along Stewart Place (opposite the war memorial park) to be retained, but not for Memorial Ave.
The fig trees don’t even show up in the proposed elevations either.
Here’s hoping the developer does the right thing and keeps them