Milton Build-to-Rent Development Approved With 500 Bike Spaces and No Resident Parking
Milton build-to-rent development puts cycling at the centre
Brisbane City Council has approved a 397-unit build-to-rent development in Milton that will have no residential car parking facilities. Instead, the twin-tower project will include around 500 bicycle parking spaces for residents, along with limited parking for visitors.
The approval makes the project a notable addition to Brisbane’s residential development pipeline. Bicycle Network described it as the first apartments in Brisbane to be built without residential car parking facilities. The development is located in Milton, an inner-city suburb with access to public transport and cycling infrastructure.
The project is positioned about 500 metres from Milton railway station and next to the Bicentennial Bikeway. These connections were highlighted by Bicycle Network as factors supporting the decision to provide extensive bicycle parking in place of resident car spaces. The area also has train, bus and ferry services, while cycling routes connect Milton with the CBD and nearby suburbs.
The development has also attracted public discussion around the amount of car parking being provided. The approved plans include limited visitor parking, while residents will not have dedicated car spaces. Other reports on the council approval identify 20 visitor car spaces and 497 bicycle spaces, including secure spaces for residents and additional spaces for visitors.
Brisbane’s changing approach to residential parking
The Milton build-to-rent development follows changes to Brisbane’s planning approach to parking. In 2024, Brisbane City Council moved to remove minimum car parking requirements for high-rise apartments in high-density areas including Milton, Newstead, Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point.
At the time, the industry estimated that constructing a basement car space could cost more than A$100,000. The change allowed developments in these areas to take a different approach to parking provision.
For the Milton project, the combination of build-to-rent housing, extensive bicycle facilities and its proximity to public transport gives the development a different parking model from conventional apartment projects. The council approval means the 397-unit scheme can proceed with residents relying on alternatives to dedicated on-site car parking.
