In just five years, up to five new skyscrapers will tower over the CBD, including the 274m Brisbane Skytower which was approved last week.

But more towers will join it in coming years, taking the skyline to new heights.

Billbergia’s $1 billion Brisbane Skytower will race Shayher Group’s $800 million triple tower at 300 George St for the title of the city’s highest building, with both planned to be 274m and scheduled to be completed about 2018.

But also under way is the so-called Tower of Power government building at 1 William St, which will be 41 storeys reaching 267m, including its spire.

There will also be the Queen’s Wharf integrated casino and resort development, although details remain unknown as the State Government considers proposals from two shortlisted consortiums, which include competitors Crown Resorts and Echo Entertainment.

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A development application was lodged with Brisbane City Council this month for the 42-storey, 134m Spire residential apartment block proposed for 550 Queen St, near St John’s Cathedral. No completion date has been set.

The buildings pushing the city skywards are a far cry from those of the 1960s, when the 92m City Hall dominated.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said 25 buildings had been constructed in the CBD in the past seven years, while and another 50 would rise in the next 20 years.

“We’re going to see a gradual evolutionary change to our skyline. It won’t happen overnight,” he said.

“The market will determine when those buildings rise.”

Currently building heights in Brisbane are limited to 274m by Civil Aviation Safety Authority restrictions due to concerns over flight paths and radar interference.

Cr Quirk said he supported flexibility in the height limit, and negotiations with CASA were ongoing, but any change did not necessarily mean there would be a rush of applications for taller towers.

“Brisbane will never be seeking the world’s tallest building, but we would like to see more flexibility around the (274m) number,” he said.

“We’ve had the height limit of 274m height restriction for a long time now, but this is the first time someone has wanted to build to that height.”

Brisbane Skytower developer Billbergia operations manager John Fitzgerald said it was not just the tower’s height which would add to the city’s skyline.

“Right now it’s going for a size and an architectural design when has never been done in Brisbane before,” he said.

“It’s going to add quite an aesthetic view to Brisbane’s skyline.”