The city officials’ plan to reduce mandatory car parking requirements in new developments will impact key West Brisbane suburbs, including Milton, Highgate Hill, and Auchenflower. The initiative, part of the Inner-City Affordability Initiative, aims to lower housing costs by reducing construction expenses linked to parking spaces.
BCC has proposed changes to its parking regulations, expanding the number of suburbs where developers can build new apartments with fewer car parks. The move follows an earlier May 2024 proposal, which initially targeted four inner-city suburbs before being expanded to 26 suburbs, including Milton, Highgate Hill, and Auchenflower.
The policy shift reverses stricter car parking mandates introduced five years ago. According to urban planners, reducing parking requirements could cut up to $100,000 from apartment prices, as underground or podium-level parking spaces add significant costs to developments.
Photo Credit: BCC
What the Changes Mean for West Brisbane
Under the new City Frame category, which includes Milton, Highgate Hill, and Auchenflower, developers will now be required to provide 0.9 car spaces per one-bedroom dwelling, 1.1 spaces per two-bedroom unit, and 1.3 spaces for three or more bedrooms. Additionally, visitor parking requirements will be reduced to one space per seven dwellings—a notable shift from the previous one per four dwellings standard.
The City Core designation, which applies stricter parking limits, includes suburbs such as Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane, and Woolloongabba. However, West Brisbane’s suburbs will fall under the City Frame category, where minimum parking requirements are reduced but not completely removed.
Photo Credit: BCC
Supporters and Concerns
The changes have received backing from property developers and urban economists, who argue that reducing parking requirements will lead to lower housing prices and encourage higher-density living near well-connected transport hubs.
However, some urban planners and local residents remain cautious. Queensland University of Technology lecturer Mark Limb questioned whether savings from lower parking costs would be passed on to buyers, stating that the impact on affordability may not be immediate.
City official Trina Massey also expressed concerns, arguing that while reducing car parks aligns with sustainable planning principles, Brisbane’s public transport system must improve to support the growing population.
Next Steps
The Queensland Government must approve the changes before they take effect. The city authorities previously held a public consultation period from 8 October to 5 November 2024, receiving 87 submissions. While limited feedback was recorded, they moved forward with the expanded proposal.
If approved, the amendment will be gazetted into the Brisbane City Plan 2014 and formally adopted in early 2025. The city officials has also indicated that future transport infrastructure improvements may be necessary to support the reduced reliance on private vehicles.
Published 3-Feb-2025