Planning Minister John Rau told InDaily he had signed off on a development plan amendment, to be gazetted next week, to allow “some greater density” in parts of Glenelg, including the waterfront district encompassing Colley Reserve and Adelphi Tce and along the main retail strip of Jetty Rd.

“There’s basically investment ready to go down at Glenelg… we’re reasonably optimistic this will generate activity at the Bay,” Rau said.

He said it was a “relatively compact area we’re talking about here”, but believed there were “people holding property there who’d be interested in getting on with development”.

“I do believe there’s a couple of developers floating around the place who are very keen to go forward with this,” he said, but emphasised that the planning strictures were “not worked out according to development applications”.

The changes would allow for a range of medium to high density mixed-use developments, and will see building heights increase along much of Jetty Road from two storeys to five – and up to six in one area – while allowable heights along Adelphi Terrace will increase from five storeys to 12.

“It’s a combination of responsible planning solutions and a reasonable prospect of the land economically being able to handle that expansion of growth,” Rau said.

He pledged the move would “retain the character elements along Jetty Rd, which has got that shopping strip quality”.

Developer Andrew Taplin, whose company manages much of the commercial precinct as well as owning property portfolios in the area, told InDaily the change was “fantastic news”.

“I just think it’s absolutely needed, and it’s probably the biggest news and most positive news almost since Glenelg was formed,” he said.

“I can identify probably half a dozen sites that we’d be lodging applications for almost immediately.”

He said a majority of respondents during the public consultation were in favour of change, arguing “we need construction jobs, we need development on arterial roads, but what’s more important is long-term sustainable employment”.

“At the moment we’ve got sites that are not commercial to develop, and as a result they’ve been run down,” he said.

“This decision is not just good for retailers and for Glenelg, but it’s great for the state and for everyone involved.”

How Glenelg will change.

The changes will also include a new policy “to address interface impacts where a development site directly abuts a residential zone”, changes to simplify red tape for prospective businesses and amending off-street car parking requirements for dwellings in the affected areas.

“These changes are a natural next step for growth and vibrancy in Glenelg,” said Rau.

It follows the Government’s 2012 push to increase allowable building heights along major roads on the city rim, including Greenhill Rd to the south, Fullarton Rd in the east Churchill and Prospect Roads north of the city.

Rau said that move meant “we’re starting to see parts of those areas have quite a development boom going on there”, most notably along Churchill and Prospect Roads.

“The original impetus was looking for areas where there would be scope and economic viability in higher density,” he said.

Further plans to broaden the remit have been shelved pending the Government’s review of its “30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide”, first published in 2010.

Rau said the changes would “take into account changes in public tastes in terms of what they’re looking for in accommodation”.