apartment development Archives

Toowong Apartment Project Koya Residences Launches as Construction Begins

A new apartment development in Toowong has been launched and moved into early construction, with Koya Residences introducing a Japandi-inspired design approach to the inner-west suburb.

Japandi Design Defines Toowong Development

The arrival of Koya Residences adds a design-focused residential project to Toowong, combining Japanese minimalism with Scandinavian functionality in a style known as Japandi.

The approach centres on simplicity, natural materials and restrained interiors, with an emphasis on comfort and long-term liveability. These principles are reflected throughout the development, shaping both the building’s exterior and the internal layouts designed for everyday use.

The project includes 40 one-, two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments arranged across five levels, maintaining a scale that aligns with the surrounding residential streetscape.

Brisbane property — *Photo Credit: Koya Residences*

Construction Activity Underway In Toowong

Construction has commenced at the Toowong site, with early works progressing as the project moves beyond its initial launch phase. A piling rig is now in place as groundwork continues.

Brisbane Builders is delivering the project for developer Lantona, which has positioned the development around considered scale, material quality and long-term liveability.

A display suite is nearing completion and is expected to open by appointment, providing a preview of selected finishes and key design elements.

Toowong Location Connects Lifestyle And Access

Located on Josling Street, the development sits within an established Toowong neighbourhood known for its access to green space and transport connections. The site is near riverfront parklands and the Bicentennial Bikeway, supporting outdoor movement and everyday convenience.

Toowong’s connectivity extends to major destinations including the CBD, St Lucia and West End, with transport options available by train, ferry, bus and bicycle. The suburb also provides access to education facilities and established local amenities.

Rooftop Amenity Expands Living Space

Shared amenities are concentrated at rooftop level, where a communal retreat is planned to include a pool, dining areas and outdoor spaces oriented towards neighbourhood and city views.

These areas are designed to support both private use and small gatherings, extending the living environment beyond individual apartments.

Within each residence, open-plan layouts and private outdoor areas are designed to bring in natural light and extend the living space.

Boutique Scale In A Changing Market

Koya Residences enters the Toowong market at a time when smaller-scale developments are becoming less common, with many recent projects in the suburb favouring larger building forms.

The project’s measured scale sets it apart within this environment while maintaining access to key urban amenities.

The development is slated for completion in early 2027, with sales and marketing managed by Keenan & Byrne.

Published 16-Apr-2026

15-Storey Mixed-Use Residential Building Planned for Toowong Corner Site

Photo Credit: DA/A006913504

A development application has been lodged for a residential building in Toowong, proposing a 15-storey mixed-use tower at 22–24 Sylvan Road and Landsborough Terrace.

Prominent Toowong Site Set for Change

A residential-led development has been proposed for a site spanning 22–24 Sylvan Road and part of Landsborough Terrace in Toowong. The project centres on a 15-storey building designed to respond to its three-street frontage and the area’s established mixed-use setting.

The proposal includes a total of 88 apartments, made up of 11 one-bedroom, 44 two-bedroom and 33 three-bedroom dwellings. Ground-level uses are incorporated to support activity along both Sylvan Road and Landsborough Terrace.

residential tower Brisbane — *Photo Credit: DA/A006913504*

Podium Design Addresses Site Conditions

The development features a four-level podium forming the base of the building, accommodating parking and active frontages. This design responds to flood-affected conditions while maintaining open and accessible ground-level areas.

Above the podium, 11 levels are dedicated to residential use. The building includes screening elements and horizontal articulation to integrate the podium and tower into a cohesive structure.

Landscaping is distributed across the site, including ground, podium and rooftop levels, accounting for 37.6 per cent of the total area. The ground level is designed to remain largely open, allowing for pedestrian access through the site.

Toowong development — *Photo Credit: DA/A006913504*

Street-Level Retail and Access Arrangements

The ground floor includes approximately 272 square metres of space allocated for shop and food and drink uses, supporting street activity within the precinct.

Vehicle access is provided via Landsborough Terrace, with two entry points. A total of 165 car parking spaces is proposed, including 150 for residents, 14 for visitors and one for commercial use. Bicycle parking is also included, with 38 spaces planned.

Sylvan Road Toowong — *Photo Credit: DA/A006913504*

Rooftop Amenities for Shared Use

A communal rooftop area is proposed as part of the development, covering 563 square metres. The space includes a range of shared facilities such as a pool, spa, plunge pools, barbecue and dining areas, along with lounge and wellness spaces.

These amenities are intended to support shared use among residents and provide spaces for recreation and social interaction.

Application Progress Continues

The application seeks approval for building work and a material change of use, covering multiple uses including residential dwellings, retail, office space and short-term accommodation.

The site is located within a medium density residential zone and the Toowong–Auchenflower precinct. The application remains in progress, with assessment stages ongoing.

Published 13-Apr-2026

Proposed 17-Storey Tower at 44 Glen Road Divides Toowong Residents

Sammut Group

A development application seeking to more than double the height of an approved riverfront apartment building at 44 Glen Road, Toowong, from 8 to 17 storeys has drawn mixed reaction from nearby residents, with concerns about traffic, flooding and excavation impacts sitting alongside support for the site’s long-overdue redevelopment.

The applicant lodged application A006928427 in December 2025 to amend an existing approval for the site, formerly known as The Dell, after relocating the heritage property from the address. The amended design, prepared by Bureau Proberts Architecture with planning by Urbis, would increase the number of apartments from 22 to 42, expand basement parking from 60 to 101 spaces across three levels and consolidate communal open space to a rooftop terrace.

The site sits in the High Density Residential Zone under the Toowong-Auchenflower Neighbourhood Plan, which permits buildings up to 15 storeys. While the proposal is technically 17 storeys, Urbis notes in its planning report that it presents as 15 due to the slope of the site and the rooftop amenity design. The site is less than 400 metres from Toowong railway station, directly adjacent to Brisbane Street and within walking distance of Toowong Village, with 15-storey buildings already in the immediate streetscape.

Why the Design Changed

JLL and Colliers marketed the original approval for a 22-apartment, eight-storey scheme for sale in August 2025 and described it as development-ready with potential to increase the building height subject to further approval. The site then changed hands, and the new development team reviewed the project’s viability as the market had shifted considerably since the original design approval.

New Toowong development application near Glen Road — *Photo Credit: Sammut Group*

Toowong’s apartment market has moved sharply in that time. Unit values in the suburb surged 16.8 per cent over the past year, with rents rising 11.7 per cent to $670 per week. Across Brisbane more broadly, apartment prices climbed 15 per cent in 2025, following 16.6 per cent growth the year prior, while vacancy rates sit at a historically tight 0.9 per cent. The Coronation Drive corridor immediately west of the Glen Road site is also absorbing significant new supply, with the Monarch Residences development at 600 Coronation Drive adding to what is rapidly becoming one of Toowong’s most active development strips.

Against that backdrop, the development team’s rationale for scaling up the project reflects the same calculation reshaping apartment developments across Brisbane’s inner west. Urbis describes the changes as reflecting increased efficiency of land use to complement the emerging character of Toowong, a character that now includes several towers of 15 storeys or more in the immediate vicinity.

Support, But Not Without Reservations

One nearby resident who regularly cycles and walks along Glen Road expressed strong support, noting the site had been overdue for development given its walkable proximity to Toowong Village and the train station. Their only concern was the parking. At 101 spaces, the proposal sits close to double what the planning scheme requires for a site of this zone and location, which that submitter described as excessive given the high-quality public transport on the doorstep.

Traffic, Flooding and Ground Movement

Those who opposed the application raised three distinct concerns. On traffic, one submitter argues that the projected 70 per cent uplift in vehicle movements has not been adequately modelled at the Glen Road and Brisbane Street intersection, particularly as the nearby Monarch development at 600 Coronation Drive adds further load to the same corridor. The submitter also questions the proposed driveway width, arguing that it exceeds 30 per cent of the front boundary and that the application’s compliance claim does not align with the traffic report or the provided drawings.

Flooding drew separate concern, with published histories of The Dell, produced by the Toowong and District Historical Society, documenting multiple flood events at the address over the past century. With a larger basement now proposed below peak river height, the submitter argued the application’s flooding mitigation strategy needed considerably more rigorous treatment.

A third submission raised excavation impacts, with a neighbour reporting noticeable vibration in surrounding buildings during preliminary site works in early 2026. Given the amended design requires a tri-level basement, that submitter called for pre-construction structural surveys of neighbouring buildings, independent vibration assessments and ongoing ground movement monitoring throughout excavation. Many surrounding buildings date from the 1970s and 1980s and were not designed with deep basement excavation in mind.

A Corridor Mid-Transformation

Glen Road is not the only address on the street attracting development attention. A separate application for a 15-storey residential tower at 21-25 Glen Road proposes 28 three-bedroom apartments and draws on the same riverside context and proximity to Toowong station. Student accommodation at 33 Glen Road brought a 14-level tower to the street several years ago. The pattern points to a corridor in mid-transformation, with the built form shifting steadily upward and questions about how that transition is managed growing more pressing with each new application.

For Toowong residents watching the Glen Road streetscape change around them, the 44 Glen Road application is another chapter in that story. For more information, please click here.

Published 18-March-2026.