Brisbane Council Smooths Way for Build-to-Rent

Brisbane City Council has introduced rule changes to allow buildings in other areas of the city to reach the heights of the CBD’s 90-storey Skytower. 

Residential buildings in certain parts of South Brisbane within the Kurilpa Precinct will be allowed to reach the 274m limit permitted in the CBD, determined by aviation safety regulations. 

According to the council, allowing increased heights for residential buildings at South Brisbane will facilitate the development of 10,000 additional homes in the area.

The changes were announced as part of the council’s newly launched Sustainable Growth Strategy, which Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner called its “anti-sprawl approach to housing”.

“Brisbane currently has enough planned dwelling supply to meet the next 15 years of demand but we aren’t resting on our laurels,” he said.

“Allowing CBD-style heights in the Kurilpa precinct will help meet demand, particularly among younger people who are eager to live in this part of inner Brisbane.

“This strategy will create a thriving urban precinct around some of the key Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues, building on the state government’s plans between Woolloongabba and South Bank.”

The council also announced it would incentivise and fast-track build-to-rent developments by allowing infrastructure charges to be paid over time and through the establishment of a special approval unit.

“There are a significant number of sites across Brisbane ready for new multiple-dwelling buildings, however they are being held back by current market conditions,” Schrinner said.

“By reducing the upfront costs, we can help facilitate build-to-rent projects that deliver much-needed rental properties to the market.”

▲ Towers in a certain part of South Brisbane will be able to match the height of the CBD’s 90-storey Skytower. 

The Property Council welcomed the changes with Queensland executive director Jen Williams saying that the state’s housing crisis has led to a shortfall in housing types. 

“Despite the focus of both the public and private sectors, supply has not improved over the past few months,” Williams said.

“Affordability and availability of housing remain a major issue for all Queenslanders.

“The council’s strategy contains welcome acknowledgement of the role the build-to-rent sector can play in addressing this crisis and through new incentives provides an important signal to industry it is keen to facilitate more of this type of development.”

Williams said it would be “vital in delivering tangible uplift in supply over a ‘business as usual’ approach”.

The Kurilpa area is home to student accommodation, residential and commercial businesses as part of the South Bank precinct.

The South Bank parklands will be subject to a major overhaul if the Future South Bank Draft masterplan is implemented after community consultation.