Shayher Group plots 1,100 apartments in two new Brisbane CBD towers

The developer behind the three-tower, $1 billion Brisbane Quarter precinct, is looking at its next mega development in the heart of the capital.

Shayher Group has filed plans with the Brisbane City Council for a new two-tower development at 309 North Quay, a 6,436 sqm site almost at the foot of Building Council of Australia Jolly Bridge.

Under the scheme, they would deliver two 56 and 51-level towers with over 1,100 one to four-bedroom apartments, including a mix of build-to-sell and branded short-term accomodation.

The towers, designed by Blight Rayner and Plus Studio, will sit atop a layered podium incorporating publicly accessible retail, a cross-block pedestrian link, and an expansive plaza, with 852 basement car spaces planned across both stages.

According to the Town Planning Report prepared by Urbis, the proposal seeks to “create vibrant and permeable public spaces” and offer “functional public spaces with a richly landscaped plaza and a cross-block pedestrian link that enhances walkability across the precinct."

Design features include a “cliff garden” podium, extensive subtropical landscaping, and sculptural forms that reflect Brisbane’s subtropical identity. 

“The development showcases high-quality subtropical architecture that aligns with Brisbane’s identity,” noted the report, adding that the towers incorporate “dynamic faceted glazing” and slender profiles that contribute positively to the city’s skyline.

The project is positioned adjacent to the Roma Street Priority Development Area (PDA), placing it within close proximity to the new Cross River Rail station and the upcoming Brisbane Metro hub. 

The proposal has been framed in the context of Brisbane’s Inner City Strategy and the Roma Street Precinct Renewal Strategy, both of which identify the area as primed for high-density, transit-oriented renewal.

The site, currently vacant, formerly housed a commercial building used for office and broadcasting. Its strategic location affords direct access to major transport corridors, including Coronation Drive, the Inner City Bypass, and the William Jolly Bridge, with Roma Street Station just 150 metres away.

Shayher has several projects they are working through, the most notable the redevelopment of the Bulimba Barracks. They revealed the plans for the first stage last year, for a 6,382 sqm parcel of the 20.73-hectare block.

Having demolished the majority of the buildings that were part of the barracks from World War II to the 1980s, they will work with the fabrication workshop which was a barge building shop in the war, which will form one of three buildings in the stage. Two will be residential, with just under 70 apartments planned.