Consultation is now underway on proposed changes to Canberra’s planning rules thought to be among the biggest since self-government. They're aimed at allowing more so-called missing middle type homes to create more choice beyond standalone homes on a single block or units in large apartment complexes.
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00:00Canberra's population is expected to grow to 700,000 by 2050, and all those extra Canberrans
00:09are going to need somewhere to live, but the ACT Government is committed to setting a boundary
00:14to the city's outward expansion due to environmental concerns as well as the pressure sprawl puts
00:19on infrastructure, services and quality of life for those on the urban fringes.
00:25With cost of living also a key factor, housing advocates have long argued there needs to
00:29be more so-called missing middle housing, terraces, townhouses, duplexes and low-rise apartment
00:37buildings, but for most of Canberra, around 70%, it's zoned RZ1 for stand-alone houses.
00:44The Government has proposed changes to what's allowed on RZ1 and RZ2 or suburban core blocks,
00:50including removing minimum area requirements for two homes on a single block, allowing unit
00:56titling on RZ1 blocks of more than 600 square metres with no maximum size for additional
01:03homes, allowing subdivision on RZ1 blocks, permitting the consolidation of multiple blocks for development,
01:09and changes to building height and site coverage limits, tempered with an increase to tree canopy
01:14coverage requirements to maintain Canberra's leafy suburban character.
01:19It's been welcomed by housing advocates, building and property industry groups, though some
01:24say without increased financial incentives and cuts to red tape, few will move to take advantage
01:29of the opportunities.
01:31And Residence Association members fear the proposed rules give too much leeway to profit-motivated
01:37developers.