Bowen Hills overhaul could allow 50-storey towers and 27,000 homes

What's happening

Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) has put forward a significant upzoning of the Bowen Hills Priority Development Area in inner Brisbane. The Urban Developer reported on 18 September 2026 that the proposed amendments could allow up to 27,000 homes across the 108-hectare precinct, about 4,000 more than the 23,000 already planned for the life of the PDA.

The precinct is about 3 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and sits beside the Victoria Park Olympic precinct. It takes in the Brisbane Showgrounds, the Old Museum, Perry Park, Bowen Park, and the Bowen Hills and Exhibition railway stations. The PDA was declared in 2008, and the current government committed to reviewing it in March 2026.

The key details

The biggest change is to built form on large sites. On mixed-use sites over 3,000 sq m, the maximum height would rise from 30 storeys to 50, and plot ratios from 9:1 to 12:1. The state also proposes removing a number of housing, sustainability and urban design requirements, scrapping value uplift charges, and allowing more flexibility for performance-based outcomes.

• Area: 108 hectares
• Homes: up to 27,000, around 4,000 more than currently planned
• Height: up to 50 storeys on larger mixed-use sites, up from 30
• Plot ratio: up to 12:1 on larger sites, up from 9:1
• New use: an artisan food and drink category, such as boutique breweries and micro-distilleries, near the Showgrounds

The industry response was positive. Urbis director Michael Cattoni said the changes would reinforce Bowen Hills as a strategically important urban renewal area. UDIA Queensland chief executive Kirsty Chessher-Brown said the amendments responded to industry feedback on the feasibility of urban renewal in the current market. The government cited similar changes in the Woolloongabba PDA, after which it reported a 466% rise in housing-related development applications within 12 months.

Timeline and next steps

• 2008: Bowen Hills PDA declared
• March 2026: the state commits to reviewing the PDA
• 17–18 September 2026: proposed amendments released for public notification
• 9 October 2026: submissions closed
• November 2026: EDQ expects the amended development scheme to be finalised

Why it matters for developers and landowners

Higher permitted heights and plot ratios, along with the removal of value uplift charges, can change the feasibility of large inner-city sites. Larger parcels, especially those over the 3,000 sq m threshold, are the most directly affected. That makes site size and amalgamation potential more relevant in this precinct than they were before.

The amendments are proposed, not final. Owners and buyers should wait for the adopted scheme, expected in November, before relying on the new settings. They should also remember that the Showgrounds Athletes Village will add about 1,800 homes in the same area, which will matter for future competition and absorption.

Frequently asked questions

What height limit is proposed for Bowen Hills?

Up to 50 storeys on larger mixed-use sites over 3,000 sq m, up from the current 30-storey limit.

How many homes could Bowen Hills accommodate under the changes?

Up to 27,000 homes, about 4,000 more than the 23,000 currently planned, according to EDQ.

When will the Bowen Hills amendments be finalised?

Submissions closed on 9 October 2026, and EDQ expects the amended development scheme to be finalised in November 2026.

Source: The Urban Developer, published 18 September 2026. This article is an independent summary and commentary by GC Prestige based on the original report — read the source for full details.