Brisbane City Council will on Tuesday pass a plan to allow buildings up to 40 storeys in parts of Fortitude Valley, a move Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says offers an opportunity for thousands more homes while protecting the area's live music scene. Labor opposition leader Jared Cassidy called for affordable housing targets, saying Schrinner had backflipped on including them in precinct plans this year.
The draft Fortitude Valley Sustainable Growth Precinct Plan will increase building limits to 40 storeys on eligible sites between St Pauls Terrace, Brookes Street, along Ann Street and around Cathedral Place, with edges transitioning to 30 storeys or lower. The 40-storey limit is based on advice from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority about flight paths, Schrinner said.
The Valley, home to more than 11,500 residents and almost 28,000 workers, was identified as a growth area because of its infrastructure and public transport. The plan would include noise protections for live-music venues, with building requirements designed to mitigate noise affecting residents in the entertainment precinct. Car parks will not be required for new housing, following changes introduced in 2024.
Schrinner said Brisbane needed more homes and that upward expansion was more sustainable than greenfield developments on the city's outskirts. He pointed to upgrades such as a new sewerage connection under the Brisbane River and billions of dollars in planned water and sewer works.
Cassidy said increased building heights alone would not solve housing affordability. He argued that the plan should include targets for affordable housing, noting that Schrinner had pushed for such targets four years ago in the Woolloongabba precinct but had since refused to include them in precinct plans this year. "What's the point if frontline, essential workers still can't afford to live in the city that they serve?" he said.
The council will also advance planning changes for Indooroopilly, Carindale and Nundah, with 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 public consultation. The second round of consultation for the Valley plan will run from November 13 to December 18, with the plan expected to be finalised in 2027.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The plan could deliver thousands of new homes in an inner-city area, addressing housing supply but raising questions about density and character.
- It sets a precedent for higher density development in other Brisbane suburbs, balancing growth with entertainment district protection.
- The debate highlights a political split between the Lord Mayor and Labor opposition over affordable housing requirements.
Background
Fortitude Valley is home to more than 11,500 residents and almost 28,000 workers. The Valley was identified as a growth area due to its existing infrastructure and public transport. Initial community consultation on the plan was held from December 2025 to February 2026, and a second round will open from November 13 to December 18. The plan is expected to be finalised in 2027.
Key Perspectives
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner: Upward expansion is a more sustainable way to add homes than greenfield developments on the city's outskirts, and the plan will protect the Valley's nightlife and live music scene with noise protections. He says the 40-storey limit is based on advice from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Council Labor opposition leader Jared Cassidy: Increased building heights alone are not enough to address housing affordability; the plan must include targets for affordable housing. He accuses Schrinner of backflipping on commitments he made four years ago for the Woolloongabba precinct.
What to Watch
- The council's vote on Tuesday will determine whether the plan progresses to the next stage.
- Public consultation from November 13 to December 18 will give residents and stakeholders a chance to shape the final plan.
- The finalisation of the plan in 2027 will determine how many homes are actually delivered and whether affordable housing targets are included.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedThe headline says Fortitude Valley is set for a skyscraper plan with building heights of 40 storeys.WA Today - Latest News: “Building heights will be raised to 40 storeys under a plan for Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley that the city council will pass on Tuesday.”
- SupportedBrisbane City Council will pass the plan on Tuesday, allowing buildings up to 40 storeys in parts of Fortitude Valley.WA Today - Latest News: “Building heights will be raised to 40 storeys under a plan for Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley that the city council will pass on Tuesday.”
- SupportedLabor opposition leader Jared Cassidy called for affordable housing targets.WA Today - Latest News: “The council’s Labor opposition leader, Jared Cassidy, said increased building heights alone were not the silver bullet for housing affordability. “We also need to see targets for affordable housing.””
- SupportedLord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the plan offers an opportunity for thousands more homes while protecting the area’s live music scene.WA Today - Latest News: ““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.””
- SupportedCassidy said Schrinner had backflipped on including affordable housing targets in precinct plans this year.WA Today - Latest News: “The lord mayor pushed for these just four years ago in Woolloongabba under the former state government’s PDA but has since backflipped, refusing to include affordable housing in every precinct plan brought to council this year”
- SupportedCassidy said, “What's the point if frontline, essential workers still can't afford to live in the city that they serve?”WA Today - Latest News: ““What’s the point if frontline, essential workers still can’t afford to live in the city that they serve? They will sprawl out anyway.””
- SupportedThe plan would allow up to 40 storeys on eligible sites between St Pauls Terrace, Brookes Street, along Ann Street and around Cathedral Place, with the edges transitioning to 30 storeys or lower.WA Today - Latest News: “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 in maximum height to 30 storeys or lower.”
- SupportedSchrinner said the 40-storey limit is based on Civil Aviation Safety Authority advice about flight paths.WA Today - Latest News: “The 40-storey limit is based on advice from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority about flight paths, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.”
- SupportedThe Valley has more than 11,500 residents and almost 28,000 workers.WA Today - Latest News: “The Valley is home to more than 11,500 residents and almost 28,000 workers, according to the council.”
- Partly supportedThe Valley was identified as a growth area because of its infrastructure and public transport.WA Today - Latest News: “The Valley was identified as a potential growth area due to its infrastructure and facilities, and public transport, Schrinner said.”
- SupportedCar parks will not be required for new housing following changes introduced in 2024.WA Today - Latest News: “Car parks will not be required for the new housing, following changes in 2024 .”
- SupportedThe second round of consultation for the Valley plan will run from November 13 to December 18.WA Today - Latest News: “a second round will open from Friday, November 13, and close on December 18.”