Pradella Property has lodged a development application to build a contemporary self-storage facility and industrial workstore complex at 842-846 Waterworks Road in The Gap, on the site of the former Renzo’s Self Storage operation opposite Ashgrove Golf Club, with the proposal now open for public submissions.
The application, lodged under reference number A007025195, covers a 5,400-square-metre site and proposes three buildings across the one parcel. Building A would operate as a five-level StoreLocal self-storage facility with a total gross floor area of 8,859 square metres, including ground-floor drive-up storage units and upper levels accessible by lift and stairs.
Buildings B and C would provide two rows of two-level industrial workstore units, totalling 2,381 square metres of gross floor area across 17 individual units ranging in size from approximately 58 to 83 square metres on the ground floor, each with a mezzanine level above.
The development has been designed by McDougall Roberts Architecture and Consulting for Pradella Property, with DA drawings submitted in May 2026. The site previously operated as Renzo’s Self Storage before sitting vacant, and the excavated state of the land has itself drawn comment from nearby residents.
What the plans actually show
The proposed StoreLocal self-storage building (Building A) rises five levels above the natural ground line, reaching 9.5 metres above natural ground level as measured in the architectural sections. The ground floor contains a mix of drive-up storage units and an entry kiosk with loading bays, lifts and accessible bathroom facilities. Storage areas on levels one through four each provide approximately 1,651 to 1,881 square metres of floor space per level.
The two workstore buildings face Waterworks Road and are designed to a more residential aesthetic, with painted textured concrete panels, brick pavers, metal balustrades and landscaped planters along the internal driveway between the two rows. Architectural renderings show a landscaped internal driveway running between Buildings B and C, with mature plantings softening what would otherwise be a purely industrial streetscape.
The overall site cover sits at 60.52 per cent, with 581 square metres of landscape area representing 10.76 per cent of the total site. A two-way driveway provides entry and exit from Waterworks Road via a sliding security gate and entry gatehouse. Alan Willing Place Park borders the site to the east.
Residents question the site’s future
Four public submissions have been lodged since the proposal entered public consultation, and they share a common theme. While residents generally welcome redevelopment of the long-vacant site, many question whether a self-storage facility is the best use for such a prominent Waterworks Road location.
One resident described the excavated site as “an eyesore” and said they were pleased to see it developed, but argued that a storage facility was the wrong fit. They suggested the land would be better suited to the type of development originally proposed nearby, particularly given the work already completed on the site.
Another submitter said the proposal would give The Gap “the feeling of light industrial rather than residential and professional”, calling instead for housing, medical services or other professional uses that would better serve the community.
Traffic and community needs emerge as key concerns
Traffic on Waterworks Road also featured prominently in the submissions. One resident pointed to existing congestion caused by recent residential development and other approved projects, arguing that the proposed storage facility could add further pressure, particularly if customers visited outside business hours. The submission also cited an approved retirement village nearby and suggested the site would be better suited to a retail hub or service centre.
Another resident argued the community needed more housing and local amenities instead of storage facilities, writing: “We require housing and entertainment precinct, we are a large community that can support business such as restaurants, bars and community centres for local groups.”
While none of the submissions opposed redevelopment of the site itself, several acknowledged its commercial history. Instead, residents questioned whether self-storage was the most appropriate use, with concerns focusing on neighbourhood character, traffic impacts and the opportunity to deliver housing, retail or community facilities on a key gateway site.
How to have your say
The development application remains open for public submissions through Brisbane’s planning portal. Residents can click here to view the full set of drawings, read existing submissions and lodge a new submission.
Published 19-June-2026
