Developers capitalise on Adelaide’s new CBD height regime
Adelaide developers are repositioning projects and development sites following the state government’s October 2025 planning reforms, which lifted maximum building heights across large parts of the CBD after an agreement was reached with Adelaide Airport to ease constraints.
Under the revised planning framework, height limits in Adelaide’s western CBD have increased from 10-40 metres to about 60 metres in some precincts. The uplift enables developers to pursue mid to high-rise buildings that may previously have been limited by low-rise or medium-density restrictions – in particular, residential, purpose-built student accommodation and mixed-use projects where additional floor space can significantly improve project viability.
Developers are already advancing higher-density projects in the CBD. The site earmarked for Walker Corporation’s second Festival Plaza tower was originally intended to accommodate a three-storey retail complex, before updated planning settings enabled a 38-storey, 160-metre commercial tower to proceed.
Another example of developers taking advantage of the reform is the Trinity Church site, positioned behind the city’s oldest church. It was previously earmarked for a 28-storey office and medical research hub, before being re-envisioned as a 33-storey, $400 million student accommodation tower.
“The planning reforms have acted as a catalyst for increased site efficiency and consequently precinct activation, providing developers greater confidence around end value,” says Jack Dascombe of Cushman & Wakefield.
Further down the development pipeline, the reforms are also beginning to influence private landowners and smaller development groups.
A 1325-square-metre dual-frontage site at 296-298 Hindley Street has recently been brought to market by the family behind the Marcellina’s Pizza franchise, and the property now benefits from a 60-metre height allowance, opening the door to a mid-rise tower of about 15 to 18 levels.
Anton Williams of Cushman & Wakefield says the reforms have created a genuine turning point for Adelaide’s West End.
“This is a genuine inflection point for the West End,” he says. “You’ve got a large, clean site with dual activation to Hindley and Rose streets, holding income in place and, importantly, newly expanded height controls that materially improve feasibility. That combination is rare.”
Williams adds that the revised planning envelope is expected to draw interest from private residential groups, purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) operators and capital partners seeking to deploy funds into Adelaide’s next development cycle.
“The site sits between UniSA West, the newly merged Adelaide University, TAFE SA and the biomedical precinct,” he says.
“That concentration of students, researchers and health workers creates deep accommodation demand. Under the 60-metre framework, both PBSA and residential schemes are stacking up.”
