Adelaide is set for a skyline transformation, with the South Australian government proposing sweeping CBD rezoning that could allow developers to build 10 to 15 storeys higher than current limits.
The changes would apply across most of the city – from Angas Street to North Terrace and West Terrace to Hutt Street – and could see new developments rise to 20 storeys in zones currently capped at three.
Premier Peter Malinauskas (pictured left) said the move would “change Adelaide’s skyline forever, sending building heights soaring,” realestate.com.au reported.
The government said the rezoning aims to streamline approvals and attract private investment, particularly in apartment construction.
“More height means more apartments and more places for South Australians to call home,” Housing Minister Nick Champion (pictured right) said.
The reforms come as Adelaide overtakes Melbourne as Australia’s second-least affordable capital, with homes now priced at 10.9 times income – a sharp rise underscoring the city’s urgent need for more inner-city housing.
The rezoning plan is being developed with Adelaide Airport to ensure flight-path safety and to create a faster approval process for taller projects.
“For decades, a complex planning system combined with airport limits have slowed the growth of the Adelaide CBD… No longer,” Malinauskas said.
The state government hopes the zoning reforms will spur apartment supply and revitalise development pipelines, addressing constraints from high construction costs and tight financing.
Malinauskas also pledged a pre-sales guarantee program (if re-elected in 2026) to back up to 50% of dwellings in eligible off-the-plan projects, capped at $30 million per development.
“This will encourage growth across the CBD like we have never seen before,” he said.
The Property Council of South Australia welcomed the move, with executive director Bruce Djite describing Adelaide’s CBD as “brimming with potential” and “the greatest infill site in the country.”
For mortgage and commercial brokers, Adelaide’s rezoning could open new opportunities in construction finance, developer lending, and off-the-plan sales. Higher density typically boosts land values and project viability, supporting build-to-sell and build-to-rent models.
With national home prices up 8.9% year-on-year and supply lagging, affordability is expected to worsen into 2026 – reinforcing the urgency of policy-driven density growth.
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