Urban design
Award-winning urban design solutions for cities and communities including masterplanning, placemaking, concept design, development advisory and more.
Carseldine Urban Village
RPS is working with Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) to create a thriving mixed-use urban centre for the Brisbane suburb of Carseldine.
Challenge
Located in Brisbane’s north, Carseldine Urban Village is a priority development area (PDA)-designated revitalisation initiative that will transform 45 hectares of under-utilised land into a new village centre with housing, commercial, retail and public space amenities.
With residents passionate about protecting the bushland feel and culture of their suburb, designing and planning solutions that reflect and respond to local needs and identity has been incredibly important. Our Brisbane planning and urban design teams have been supporting EDQ to shape positive outcomes for the project’s masterplan and development approvals since 2015.
Solution
RPS has assisted EDQ and its building partners to develop innovative housing options that offer affordable housing product, while achieving the density requirements required by the PDA Scheme. Drawing on our experience shaping similar developments all over South East Queensland, our team has helped EDQ to balance the urban design outcomes and inclusions required to make the project viable, while at the same time innovating solutions that would allay community concerns.
To ensure the design of new housing aligned with resident expectations, an innovative freehold terrace product has been adopted to help Carseldine Urban Village deliver adequate (medium) density and affordability while ensuring that a ‘low-rise’ community character could be maintained. This approach has also helped to deliver on the sustainability objectives set for the development and retain as much natural bushland as possible, along with upgrading and relocating the existing sporting amenities that are much-loved by locals.
Our urban designers have led the design process for the Village Heart - crucial in ensuring a truly successful mixed-use outcome for the village. Design solutions included shifting the Village Heart zone to a more visible location, facilitating greater connectivity from the existing Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre campus to the Carseldine Train Station.
Carseldine Urban Village is now moving into the construction and delivery phase, with the new $6.5 million sport and recreation precinct ‘The Green’ opening to the public on 11 January 2020. ‘The Green’ features a range of sporting fields, exercise equipment and play areas, as well as innovative power and water-saving technology.
March 2020 saw the approval of the first stage of residential dwellings, as well as the civil works contract awarded. We’re proud to have assisted EDQ to achieve planning and design outcomes that align and comply with the PDA Development Scheme, respond to commercial realities and market demand in the area, while meeting the needs and expectations of local residents for the future of their suburb.
