City Plan Targets 50,000 Residents by 2036 as SCAP Rejects Franklin Street Student Tower

The State Commission Assessment Panel rejected a proposed 30-storey, 100-metre student accommodation tower on Franklin Street because the project exceeded the recommended height limit by nearly double and did not provide adequate student amenity. This decision aligns with the City of Adelaide’s new City Plan, released in September 2024, which sets a target of 50,000 residents by 2036 and identifies the CBD as the primary location for walkable, higher-density residential and mixed-use development.

The updated 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide directs future urban growth toward the CBD, where high-rise buildings are generally permitted, while suburbs remain largely limited to one to three storeys. The City of Adelaide Capital City Policy Review (Design Quality) Development Plan Amendment has been authorised to raise design quality standards for all development in the CBD. These documents together shape how new buildings must address community needs such as open space, facilities and resident services.

Effects on CBD residents and services

For Adelaide CBD residents the emphasis on adequate amenity in student accommodation proposals means new projects must include space and facilities that support daily living rather than simply adding beds. The City Assessment Panel serves as the authority that grants planning consent for performance-assessed applications requiring public notification, giving local input a formal role in how growth proceeds.

Higher-density residential development concentrated in the CBD is expected to increase the number of people using local services, transport links and public spaces. The City Plan’s population target of 50,000 residents by 2036 provides a measurable benchmark for how many additional households and associated service demands may arise over the next decade.

Next steps in the approval process

Future applications for student or residential towers on Franklin Street and similar sites will be assessed against the revised design standards and the City Plan’s density priorities. The City Assessment Panel will continue to evaluate performance-assessed proposals that require public notification, ensuring each project demonstrates compliance with height and amenity requirements before consent can be granted.