ON DECEMBER 14, 2023, the Ipswich City Council approved the development of a child care centre and a café on the site of the former Almo’s Family Shoes Store in Rosewood.
The application from developer, LB4 Holdings, covered the property at 3-5 John Street, Rosewood (where the store building stands) and the neighbouring allotment.
When the developer secured the approval, an ‘exemption certificate’ had already been issued by council’s planners, enabling LB4 Holdings to demolish the building as it was proven that it had been erroneously listed under one of the council’s heritage overlays.
However, in documents uploaded with the development application for a child care centre and café, the developer outlined the intention to keep the façade generally intact, but spruced up.
But the approved exemption certificate has now lapsed and council recently received an application to reinstate it.
The applicant was the town planning agent for CCC Rosewood Pty Ltd “who is seeking an exemption certificate to allow for the partial or full demolition of existing buildings within the property at 5 John Street, Rosewood and structures within the adjoining road corridor [footpath]”.
In the application it was also noted that: “It is intended that existing buildings and structures on the subject site (including the street awning) are demolished.
“The demolition forms an initial stage of site preparation to facilitate the approved development application for a Child Care Centre … both partial and full demolition are referenced in this request to provide flexibility, however it is noted that the approved Child Care Centre involves retention of the front façade (first 1.1 m) of the existing building addressing John Street.
“Whilst exemption is sought for all demolition on the site, it is acknowledged that the final built form outcome on the site will be subject to the requirements of [the existing approval] or as amended.”
The December 2023 approval for the development indicated that the intent was to:
• Build a single storey with the facade at the front of the property.
• The building would house a childcare centre catering to 120 children aged from birth to five years old.
• A small cafe was to be integrated into the childcare entrance design.
• Part of the works would involve the construction of a carpark with 31 spaces (beside the building at ground level and accessed by a new crossover to John Street).
• The design is to incorporate the majority of the facade of the existing shop and street awning at 5 John Street.
• The pedestrian entrance to the building will be directly off John Street.
• Landscape the external play space and in a consolidated area at the street frontage to soften the carparking area.
• Stormwater discharge will be directed to an existing swale in the adjoining property to the rear, with water treated for quantity and quality before discharge.
The application is currently under consideration by the Ipswich City Council town planners.
