Pubs in Brisbane could be transformed into major accommodation hubs under a council plan aimed at tackling the city’s looming hotel room shortage.
The proposed changes would allow pub developments in key suburban centres to reach up to twelve storeys, while other eligible sites could be approved for accommodation of up to six storeys.
Brisbane City Council is fast-tracking a Suburban Pub Stays Strategy through a Temporary Local Planning Instrument, with the changes designed to cut development costs, reduce planning delays and improve the feasibility of new hotel projects.
The push comes after hotel construction across Brisbane plunged by about 90 per cent between 2019 and 2024, while development costs increased by roughly 40 per cent.
Under the proposed framework, height limits for pubs in Carindale, Indooroopilly, Mitchelton, Nundah, Toombul, Toowong and Wynnum would increase from ten to 12 storeys.
Council research identified more than sixty Brisbane pubs sitting on large sites, yet only fifteen currently provide accommodation.
If just twenty suitable pubs added accommodation, council estimates hundreds of additional hotel rooms could be created across the city.
Several suburban pubs have already demonstrated the potential of the model, including The Brook, The Calamvale Hotel and The Glen at Eight Mile Plains.
Suburban Futures director Ross Elliott says many had remained largely unchanged for decades and could now make better use of their sizeable sites.
Large car parks and underutilised land could provide opportunities for new accommodation, while also supporting additional facilities and services for surrounding communities.
The proposed planning changes include simpler development applications, increased height allowances across several planning zones, reduced car parking requirements and the ability for eligible short-term accommodation developments to defer infrastructure charges rather than paying them upfront.
The strategy has been welcomed by property industry leaders, who have warned Brisbane could face a shortfall of up to 7,400 hotel rooms by 2032, when the city hosts the Olympics.
Property Council of Australia Queensland executive director Jess Caire said Brisbane’s previous hotel development cycle showed targeted incentives could unlock investment and improve project feasibility. That cycle helped deliver major projects including The Westin Brisbane, Emporium South Bank and The Calile Hotel.
With population growth, major events and the 2032 Games expected to drive visitor demand, the latest strategy aims to unlock suburban land, support local businesses and deliver more accommodation without relying solely on new CBD hotels.
