Brisbane pubs cleared to provide more accommodation

There will be more room at the inn when Brisbane pubs are allowed to provide extra hotel accommodation.

The Brisbane City Council will introduce “practical changes” to support the industry in creating more suburban pub stay experiences with a Temporary Local Planning Instrument.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said not everyone wanted to stay in the inner-city.

“More pub stays in our suburbs will add more choice to Brisbane’s accommodation market, and mean visitors will be able to stay closer to their family and friends while they’re here,” Cr Schrinner said.

“We can’t force hotels to be built, and there are only so many levers we can pull, but we can make sure unnecessary barriers aren’t getting in the way.

“There was a time when suburban pubs had rooms upstairs and there’s an opportunity to bring that idea back in a modern way.”

Hotel construction in Brisbane fell by 90 percent between 2019 and 2024, while industry reports construction costs have risen by around 40 percent.

The Property Council estimates there will be a projected shortfall of 5200-7400 rooms by the 2032 Games if current supply trends continue.

More than 60 Brisbane pubs sit on larger sites, but just 15 offer accommodation, according to the council.

Feedback on the council’s Suburban Pub Stays Strategy supported simpler, clearer rules for pubs wanting to add accommodation.

The proposed changes include:

• Simplifying development applications for accommodation on suitable pub sites to make approvals quicker
• Allowing extra height where appropriate across multiple zone categories
• Changes to car parking requirements for suitable sites to reduce costs for delivery
• Allowing eligible short-term accommodation projects to defer infrastructure charges rather than paying them upfront, making it easier to get projects off the ground before they open for business. This proposal would be extended to hotels across the city.

The Brook Hotel redevelopment, for example was completed in just over a year at a cost of $25 million.

Suburban Futures Institute Managing Director Ross Eliott said The Glen at Eight Mile Plains and the Calamvale Hotel had also demonstrated the potential for short-term accommodation.

“Suburban Futures first proposed this initiative because we saw a significant opportunity to extend this model across Brisbane,” Mr Eliott said.

“Many suburban pubs have changed little since the introduction of drive-through bottle shops decades ago and are well-placed to evolve again.

“Many of these pubs occupy large sites with extensive car parks, creating an opportunity to make better use of the land while introducing new accommodation and facilities for their local communities.”

Property Council Executive Director Jess Caire said increasing Brisbane’s accommodation capacity wasn’t just about new CBD hotels.

The proposed planning changes will be considered in the coming weeks before seeking approval from the Queensland Government.

EXAMPLES OF PROPOSED HEIGHT CHANGES ACROSS VARIOUS ZONES