The Chambers Expansion

Laldy Pty Ltd sought approval to renovate and expand an existing two-storey building at 21 Spence Street, on a prominent corner of the Cairns CBD. The building has stood on the site since the 1920s and is recognised as a local heritage place, much of its original character was lost in a late-1980s refit.

The project restores the 1920s facade, brings restaurant, bar and delis uses to the ground floor, expands the first floor for offices, and opens up a rear laneway and courtyard for dining. It also extends the Lake Street streetscape upgrades past the building, with a new outdoor dining area, landscaping and footpaths.

The challenge

• Heritage: building work on a local heritage place had to respect and reveal the building’s significance, not just refresh it.
• Works beyond the boundary: the outdoor dining, footpath and landscaping sat in the Lake Street road reserve, so they needed Council support and a road permit as well as a planning approval.
• Car parking: the building has no off-street parking, and the plan removed five on-street spaces, so the case relied on existing parking credits and the site’s CBD location.
• Shared courtyard: dining in the rear courtyard extended over the neighbouring lot and an access easement, which raised questions of tenure, hours and amenity.

Our role

• Led discussions with Council and held pre-lodgement meeting with the client, project team and Council’s planning team.
• Confirmed the site’s existing car parking credits with Council.
• Prepared and lodged the planning report and combined application, supported by Thomson Adsett’s design plans and statement of significance.
• Set out the case for the road permit for outdoor dining in Lake Street.
• Made a performance-based case for the minor departures on car parking and landscaping.
• Managed the application through to Council’s decision.

What was approved

• Restaurant, bar and deli uses on the ground floor, trading 6am to 10pm seven days a week.
• Offices on an expanded first floor.
• Building work to restore the 1920s facade, with simpler window fittings and more discreet awnings.
• A covered outdoor dining area on Lake Street in place of five on-street car spaces, with a 3-metre clear footpath kept for pedestrians.
• New footpaths and tropical garden beds on both street frontages.
• Outdoor dining in the upgraded rear laneway and courtyard.