Suburban Pub Stays Strategy
Learn about a new strategy aimed to increase the number of suburban hotel rooms.
About the strategy
Suburban pubs are being called on to help fill a critical shortage of hotel rooms ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Suburban Pub Stays Strategy is encouraging suburban pub owners and operators to deliver new accommodation and function spaces on large, underutilised sites in the suburbs.
Earlier this year we received feedback from pub owners, operators and industry groups about ways to make it easier to deliver new accommodation on suitable suburban pub sites.
Consultation feedback
Feedback received during consultation identified opportunities for:
- clearer guidance on building height, design, landscaping, parking and noise
- greater flexibility in locations where development can complement surrounding neighbourhoods
- parking requirements that better reflect how pubs and accommodation operate
- a simpler and more predictable approvals process
- planning rules that recognise pubs and hotels operate differently from other types of development
- support for protecting local heritage while allowing suitable sites to evolve and grow.
Why this matters now
A recent Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) report shows South East Queensland currently has just 46,000 hotel rooms – less than half of Los Angeles (120,000) and Paris (133,000). There is a limited time in which new rooms can be developed before 2032.
The Property Council also recently highlighted reduced demand during COVID-19 and a 40% increase in hotel room construction costs had contributed to the shortage, with hotel construction in Brisbane falling by 90% between 2019 and 2024.
Unlocking potential in suburban pubs
More than 60 Brisbane pubs sit on larger sites but just 15 currently offer accommodation. If just 20 suitable pubs added accommodation, they would provide hundreds of hotel rooms across Brisbane.
With a critical need for hotel rooms across Brisbane, a Temporary Local Planning Instrument has been proposed to unlock more rooms.
Smaller projects can be delivered faster than large CBD hotels, using local builders and trades. Recent developments have shown strong demand for local accommodation and function spaces — boosting the economy and creating vibrant suburban hubs.
The Suburban Pub Stays Strategy will strike the right balance between encouraging hotel rooms in appropriate areas while ensuring suburban homes are available on the long-term rental market.
Proposed planning changes
We've proposed temporary changes to planning requirements to create more opportunities to support additional accommodation at suburban pubs across Brisbane in the lead up to 2032.
These temporary changes apply to existing hotel sites and make it easier to lodge a development application for short-term accommodation for existing pubs in certain zones. An additional two storeys will be allowed where appropriate in certain zones, except where neighbourhood plans already provide for greater building heights.
Car parking requirements will also be updated in key locations with good access to public transport.
Next steps
The temporary changes to planning requirements require approval from the Queensland Government. If approved, Council will adopt these changes, which will apply from late 2026 for 2 years.