Released 24/05/2024
Minister for Planning Chris Steel is releasing a new statement of planning priorities to support the building of new homes where Canberrans want to live.
The priorities are assisting in the ACT Government’s commitment to build thousands of new homes under the National Housing Accord housing target.
“This next stage of planning reform will be focused on housing supply, and includes enabling more low density missing-middle housing in Canberra,” said Minister for Planning Chris Steel.
“This document outlines the next steps in planning reform to support our growing city, including different types of homes in our city’s existing footprint and new greenfield areas.
“Canberra has a lot of high density multi-unit housing and single-residential homes but nothing much in-between. The Government has already made some changes to the Territory’s Planning system to enable the construction of a more diverse range of housing choices in both new and existing suburbs.
“This next stage of reform focuses on opportunities to supply a greater diversity of housing such as townhouses, row houses and duplexes on residential blocks.
“We can supply more housing in existing suburbs in a way that is well-designed and sustainable whilst maintaining the quality of life we enjoy in Canberra.”
A draft missing middle design guide outlined in the statement of planning priorities will be developed in consultation with the community which will guide how missing middle homes can be built on typical Canberra blocks and what isn’t acceptable.
“It’s important that the reform is design-led, working with ACT architects and the community to get it right for new and existing residents,” said Minister Steel.
“I want this design work to show in detail what forms of middle housing can fit into a typical Canberra street, down to the view from the neighbour’s window, and how we can incorporate green spaces and trees on a block with two or more homes.”
Once the Draft Design Guide has been developed and consulted on, this will inform a future Government’s consideration of changes to the Territory Plan to support the construction of additional missing middle housing in the ACT including townhouses, duplexes and row houses on RZ1 and other existing appropriately residential zoned blocks.
“This is about building more homes where people want to live,” said Minister Steel.
“More missing middle housing provides opportunities for older Canberrans to age in place, and more families to find a home with a garden near established services.”
The ACT Government remains committed to delivering on the targets set out in the National Housing Accord and we are working to deliver above our per capita share of the national target of 1.2 million homes.
Canberra is one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, expected to reach a population of almost 700,000 by 2050. Increasing the diversity of housing supply will improve housing affordability, access and choice for Canberrans.
Other priorities in the statement of Planning Priorities include:
- Planning for more housing in and around key precincts, shops and rapid transport connections
- Planning for the growth of Canberra’s newest regions
- Outlining Canberra’s future jobs and innovation precincts
- Supporting community needs across the ACT
- Territory Priority Projects
- Environmental Protection
- Design focus and implementing the New Planning System
To view the full statement of planning priorities visit: www.planning.act.gov.au/about/minister-for-planning-statement-of-planning-priorities.
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Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases