Parking Changes Aim to Boost Housing Affordability in Dutton Park

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The city is expanding its initiative to boost housing affordability by drastically reducing car parking requirements for new developments in inner-city suburbs, including parts of Dutton Park.



Reduced Parking Requirements

Parking Changes Aim to Boost Housing Affordability in Dutton Park
Photo Credit: BCC

The council is proposing changes to the Brisbane City Plan to decrease the number of car parks developers must provide in new high-density housing projects. This initiative aims to make housing more affordable by cutting construction costs, which are often passed on to buyers and renters.  

The changes will apply to two categories of inner-city areas: “core” suburbs and “city frame” areas. Dutton Park falls within the “city frame” classification.

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Details of the Changes

In “city frame” areas like parts of Dutton Park, the new rules propose a minimum of 0.9 car spaces for one-bedroom dwellings, 1.1 spaces for two-bedroom houses, and 1.3 spaces for homes with three or more bedrooms.  Visitor parking requirements will also be reduced to one space for approximately every seven houses.  

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These changes represent a less drastic reduction than in the “core” areas, where parking requirements could be halved. The council believes that these reductions are justified by declining car ownership rates in inner-city areas.

Rationale Behind the Move

Parking Changes Aim to Boost Housing Affordability in Dutton Park
Photo Credit: BCC

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has stated that the council’s consultation with the community indicated a decline in inner-city car ownership. He emphasised that current parking requirements significantly cost new apartment buildings, making housing less affordable.  


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The council believes reducing these requirements will help deliver more affordable homes in well-connected areas.  They argue that the cost of car parking is embedded in the price of new housing, and reducing these requirements could save developers up to $100,000 per apartment, although it is unclear how much of this saving will reach the consumer.

Concerns and Considerations

While the Property Council supports the move, some, like Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy, have raised concerns about whether developers will pass the savings on to buyers and renters.  Mr Cassidy has called for mechanisms to ensure that the cost reductions benefit those seeking housing rather than increasing developer profits.  He also stressed the importance of improving public and active transport infrastructure in these suburbs to support the reduced parking availability.  

Some planning experts have also expressed concern that developers will reap the benefits, not those seeking housing. A QUT senior lecturer, Mark Limb, suggested that the changes may not significantly impact housing prices.



Next Steps

The proposed changes will require state government approval before they can be implemented.  The council has stated that the amendment will be tailored to support local and Queensland government strategies to increase housing supply and affordability in inner-city areas with good access to public transport and active travel options.

Published Date 04-Feb-2025