Redland City Council will consult the community on a Redland City Plan amendment package designed to deliver well-designed apartments and townhouses across the city.

Mayor Karen Williams said the proposed City Plan amendment and policy amendment package followed a thorough review of multiple dwelling outcomes delivered by the City Plan since its commencement in 2018.

The findings and recommendations of the review were presented to the council in May 2020.

“Redlands Coast community has consistently expressed strong views about the quality and location of residential growth within the city with a preference for well-located and designed housing development,” Cr Williams said.

“The review identified a number of concerns with the built form and design elements being delivered under the City Plan and opportunities to address these concerns and improve the design outcomes being delivered.

“This included ways to better integrate the design outcomes sought by the existing Multiple Dwelling Design Guide into the zone codes of the City Plan.

“The design guide was also recommended to become a planning scheme policy to assist in its use for guiding development proponents in achieving high quality design outcomes.”

Cr Williams said the review included the operation and coordination of existing built form and design provisions, the approach of other regional councils, and the effectiveness of the existing Multiple Dwelling Design Guide that supports, but is not part, of the current City Plan.

“A greater diversity of housing options, including multiple dwellings strategically located throughout the city close to centres and public transport is important to manage expected population growth while at the same time responding to the changing housing needs of the community,” she said.

“It plays a key role in meeting housing and lifestyle needs of the growing and changing community; providing greater housing choice in the city, including affordable housing options, while supporting improved public transport services, and enhancing the economic vitality of centres.

“Ensuring the City Plan delivers a high-quality multiple dwelling built form, consistent with Redland City’s character, is essential to maintaining the quality of life and amenity of the Redlands Coast.”

Cr Williams said the proposed amendments to the City Plan were supported and informed by testing and review by independent planning and economic consultants.

“The current location and extent of land zoned for medium density development in City Plan 2018 was also found to accord with current strategic development outcomes, and no change to zoning maps was needed,” she said.

Council this week responded separately to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government and Planning noting that the State Government’s own reporting shows the City is meeting Shaping SEQ dwelling supply benchmarks and delivering housing diversity.

“This includes seven years supply of uncompleted multiple dwellings.

“Council considers the delivery of State transport and other infrastructure is a high priority for effectively addressing the ongoing housing supply and diversity needs of the City.”

The proposed medium density amendments have been reviewed by the Queensland Government and agreed for community consultation.

The major amendment and the planning scheme policy will be advertised for a 30 day public consultation and formal submission period beginning on 4 August.