Fortitude Valley to hit new heights under skyscraper plan

Building heights will be raised to 40 storeys under a plan for Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley that the city council will pass on Tuesday.

The draft Fortitude Valley Sustainable Growth Precinct Plan promises more homes, bigger opportunities and better connections, while protecting the entertainment precinct’s live music scene.

The Valley is home to more than 11,500 residents and almost 28,000 workers, according to the council.

The proposed changes would increase building heights up to 40 storeys on eligible sites between St Pauls Terrace, Brookes Street, along Ann Street and around Cathedral Place.

The edges of this precinct would transition to 30 storeys.

The 40-storey limit is based on advice from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority about flight paths, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

“There’s an opportunity for thousands more homes in Fortitude Valley,” he said.

“The key thing we want to do there is protect what makes the Valley great, which is its amazing nightlife [and] live music scene.”

The Valley was identified as a potential growth area due to its infrastructure and facilities, and public transport, Schrinner said.

The plan would include noise protections for live-music venues, and building requirements designed to mitigate this affecting residents in the entertainment precinct.

“The buildings will need to be built in a way that protects people from noise impacts, and that’s part of our strict requirement. We think two things can co-exist really well in the Valley,” Schrinner said.

He said Brisbane needed more homes, and his council was choosing to target upwards expansion over greenfield sites on the outskirts of town.

“Greenfield developments … means trees are cut down in outer suburban areas to create new homes. We can do this in a more sustainable way by bringing homes to where the transport, the facilities, the shops, the restaurants, the cafes are,” he said.

Schrinner noted that upgrades were being made to infrastructure, such as a new sewerage connection under the Brisbane River.

“There’s a whole lot of sewer upgrades, there are billions of dollars of water and sewer upgrades planned. But that will always be more affordable if it’s using existing infrastructure and upgrading [it rather] than building brand-new infrastructure,” he said.

Car parks will not be required for the new housing, following changes in 2024.

“It’s important to get the balance right, so we can provide more housing, but also not have everyone use cars for every single trip. And when you live in the heart of the city, or the heart of the Valley, you will walk to places, you will catch public transport. We see it in the data already,” Schrinner said.

The council will also move along planning changes for Indooroopilly, Carindale and Nundah on Tuesday.

These changes include increased height limits of up to 25 storeys, depending on lot size.

The proposed changes will be given to the council’s chief executive for consideration and a state interest review, before going out to public consultation.

Initial community consultation for the Valley plan was held from December 2025 to February, and a second round will open from Friday, November 13, and close on December 18.

The plan is then expected to be finalised in 2027.

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