Statement on WM Hughes Street Development Application 11625/2023/CA

Published on 13 February 2026

Ipswich City Council has been actively assessing a development application for 474 units at 48 and 22 WM Hughes Street, North Ipswich (11625/2023/CA).

This has included engagement of an Independent Decision Review Panel to assist in the assessment of the application and the holding of a public hearing, however the process for determining the application has not been completed.

The process for an Independent Decision Review Panel is instituted where applications are particularly sensitive to the community, and has been welcomed as bringing extra rigour to council’s assessment process.

The applicant was asked by council to agree to an extension of the decision-making period to allow this process, and other assessment processes to be finalised.

The applicant has advised council that they have declined to extend the process. It is their right to do so. In correspondence, the applicant has advised that they will be pursuing a deemed refusal of the development application. It is expected that this will result in the institution of an appeal with the Planning and Environment Court by the applicant.