A development application lodged in April seeks approval for a five-storey modular apartment building at 21, 23 and 25 Largs Street in Darra, proposing 26 units specifically targeted at singles, couples, downsizers and essential workers looking for a well-located, transit-oriented home without a large price tag.
The application, designed by Wallacebrice Architecture and lodged under reference A006993834 on 2 April 2026, proposes the amalgamation of three residential lots with a combined site area of 1,568 square metres within the Medium Density Residential zone of the Darra-Oxley District Neighbourhood Plan. Town planning is by Planning Initiatives, with landscape architecture by Mark Baldock Landscape Architect.
What sets this development apart from a standard apartment application is its construction method. By using prefabricated modular components, the developers expect to bypass standard construction delays and lower overall delivery costs in a sector heavily dominated by traditional builds.
A different approach to apartment construction
Darra is an industrial and residential suburb 13 kilometres south-west of central Brisbane, situated on the Ipswich to Brisbane railway line opened in 1876.
Queensland Cement Ltd began production here in 1916, and Darra grew steadily through the postwar era as affordable working-class housing, with its railway access and proximity to the Centenary Highway making it practical for both residents and industry.
That legacy of affordability and connectivity has never left the suburb, and it is precisely what makes a project like this one fit the neighbourhood’s character.
The Darra-Oxley District Neighbourhood Plan envisions the suburb becoming a prosperous area which responds to changing community needs and supports a diverse mix of residential, commercial and industrial uses, with the upgrade of Darra Railway Station and its bus interchange identified as a key contributor to the precinct’s ongoing growth.
Largs Street’s close proximity to the platforms anchors the project’s transit-oriented design, putting commuters within walking distance of the upgraded interchange.
A closer look at the proposed building
The five-storey building reaches approximately 17.5 metres and provides a gross floor area of 1,911 square metres across its 26 units. The mix covers three three-bedroom apartments, 17 two-bedroom apartments, four one-bedroom apartments and two studio apartments, a configuration that leans heavily toward the two-bedroom format while offering entry-level options through the studio and one-bedroom units.
Twenty on-site car parking spaces are proposed alongside 33 bicycle parking spaces, a ratio that reflects the project’s deliberate positioning around lower car ownership and proximity to public transport.
Planning material states the lower parking rate is justified by the transit-oriented location and the target demographic of residents less likely to rely on private vehicles.
The landscape concept has been designed to contribute to Darra’s subtropical character, providing amenity for future residents while addressing the microclimate of the site and contributing positively to the Largs Street streetscape.
The case for modular in Brisbane’s affordability conversation
The use of prefabricated modular construction is the most distinctive aspect of this proposal. Planners at Planning Initiatives described it as an innovative construction method designed to reduce construction timeframes and improve the ultimate affordability of the finished housing while still achieving a high standard of amenity for future residents.
Modular construction involves assembling significant building components off-site in controlled factory conditions before delivering and connecting them on-site, reducing weather delays, labour costs and construction waste.
In Brisbane’s current building environment, where labour shortages and material costs have extended timelines and pushed prices upward, the approach has genuine relevance to the affordability outcomes the project targets.
The application remains under assessment. The full documentation is available under reference A006993834.
Published 20-May-2026
