Phuket could soon build up to 20 floors. A new town plan for the island would let buildings in its red zones rise to 45 to 60m, about 15 to 20 floors, where most of Phuket is capped at 23m today, roughly 7 floors.
Where the taller buildings could go
The red zones cover all of Patong, parts of Thalang in the north and parts of central Phuket Town. These are the island’s busiest commercial areas, where land is scarce and demand for hotels, offices and homes keeps growing.
What stays low
The Old Town and its Sino-Portuguese streets keep tighter limits. The shophouses there were built by tin merchants in the 19th century and give Phuket Town its character, and the plan protects that skyline. Much of the seafront, Kathu, Rawai and the suburbs also fall in more restricted zones.
Not every plot will reach the new height
A red zone sets the ceiling, and other rules still apply. Building law and road access mean many sites will stop at 20 to 24m, even inside a red zone, because taller buildings need wider roads in front of them.
When it could take effect
The draft is still being revised after public feedback. It needs approval from the provincial planning committee, then a 90 day public notice, and is expected to take effect in 2027.
A skyline in the making
For an island that has grown outwards for decades, building upwards in the right places is a big shift. Done well, it means more homes and services close to where people work, and more room left for the green hills and beaches that make Phuket what it is.
