Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said amendments to the State Development Assessment Provisions and Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009 would better protect heritage places.

"The new trigger will ensure the cultural significance of state heritage places is not destroyed or substantially reduced by adjoining development," Ms Trad said.

"It will subject development applications on properties adjoining heritage places to the same level of scrutiny as the heritage place itself, ensuring a better outcome for the community."

Under an amendment to the SPR, certain development applications adjoining a state heritage place will trigger automatic assessment by the Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning.

"While the new trigger is not retrospective, if it was in place at the time, it would have ensured the proper scrutiny of the development adjacent to iconic heritage places like Customs House," Ms Trad said.

"We know how important protecting our heritage is and this commonsense approach will protect some of Queensland's most important heritage places."

In September, The University of Queensland appealed against a Planning and Environment Court decision to allow a tower to be built next to Customs House.

It had lost its appeal in July.

But in November, UQ and developer Cbus Property announced an agreement which would allow the new development at 433 Queen Street to proceed, while saving views of Customs House.