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According to ABC News, Brisbane City Council has proposed higher building limits across parts of Fortitude Valley, a plan it says could support thousands of new homes while retaining the suburb’s entertainment and live-music character. The Fortitude Valley Sustainable Growth Precinct Plan forms part of the council’s “tall over sprawl” housing strategy.

The proposal would lift height limits from 30 to 40 storeys at selected sites between St Pauls Terrace and Brookes Street, along Ann Street and around Cathedral Place. At the edge of the precinct, permitted heights would transition to 30 storeys and lower. The council also proposes stronger entertainment-precinct rules and noise protections.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said new buildings would need to account for residents moving into an established entertainment precinct and be designed to protect people from noise impacts. He said the council believed housing growth and the Valley’s nightlife could coexist if development was planned and designed well.

Community consultation is scheduled from November 13 to December 18, with a final plan expected in 2027. Fortitude Valley follows earlier “tall over sprawl” proposals for Indooroopilly, Carindale and Nundah. Limited locations near the Indooroopilly and Carindale shopping centres are set for limits of up to 25 storeys, while areas near Nundah village and train station will rise to 15 storeys from December 11.

Emeritus Professor Brian Roberts criticised the approach as “tombstone architecture” and said 40 storeys was too high for the Valley. Brisbane Residents United spokeswoman Elizabeth Handley said the council and government should focus on social housing rather than high-rise apartments, warning that ongoing changes could threaten the city’s character.