Festival Plaza skyscraper could reach 40 storeys under Planning Minister’s new code amendment

The government has pushed through changes for the proposed second high-rise at Festival Plaza, despite receiving overwhelmingly negative feedback. Have your say.

Negative feedback has been received over plans for the second skyscraper at Festival Plaza to reach new heights. Picture: Supplied

The state government has approved planning changes allowing a proposed tower in Adelaide’s Festival Plaza to rise to 40 storeys, despite PlanSA receiving a majority of feedback opposing the amendment.

Walker Corporation’s second high-rise development for Festival Plaza, first announced in April 2024, is proposed to reach 38 storeys, but a new code amendment allows an extra two levels.

The proposed skyscraper will dwarf the existing 29-storey One Festival Tower at Festival Plaza.

The code amendment has now been finalised and adopted by the Planning Minister after feedback was provided by community, industry, local and state government and advocacy groups.

A PlanSA document summarising the feedback said the majority of responses did not support the code amendment, in particular the building height guidance of up to 40 levels and the location next to the heritage listed Parliament House.

An artist’s impression of a second Walker Tower at Festival Plaza. Picture: Supplied

However, the government said the new code amendment incorporated the feedback by specifying greater details for the protection of Parliament House.

The government said the code now specifies a minimum setback of nine metres from Parliament House’s northern façade, and adds new details to preserve view lines to the balcony and the building’s Aedicular Corner.

Planning Minister Nick Champion said the code amendment ensured a second tower on Festival Plaza would deliver more public space and better protect the heritage of Parliament House.

“The original deal to build a three-storey retail building would have been a terrible outcome for the city,” he said.

The second tower will be allowed to reach 40 storeys, up from the planned 38. Picture: Supplied

Mr Champion said the new tower was expected to draw approximately 9500 workers to the area and generate $1.3 billion in economic activity.

Greens planning spokesperson Robert Simms said the code amendment demonstrated the government’s failure to protect heritage values and the interests of the city.

“There’s only one thing worse than one skyscraper overshadowing Parliament House and that’s two skyscrapers,” he said. “Our planning system is serving the interests of developers rather than the community.”

The building plans include 36 floors of commercial office space, an option for 3000sqm of public civic space over four levels, a grand glass foyer, two floors of high-quality food and beverage space, terrace-level dining and 800sqm of additional public plaza.

Construction on the skyscraper was expected to start in 2025 before the tower is completed as early as mid-2027, subject to planning approvals and tenancy agreements.

The construction period is expected to create 1300 jobs.