The ACT Government has finalised the Territory Plan under the new planning system, approved by the Assembly today.
"The final Territory Plan incorporates range of minor changes identified since November last year, that will support the effective implementation of the new outcomes focused planning system," said Minister for Planning Chris Steel.
"One of the more important amendments is to reclassify the Molonglo commercial centre as a Town Centre, to reflect anticipated amendments to the National Capital Plan, once agreed by the National Capital Authority.
"The Territory Plan is a living document and will be the foundation for the next stages of planning reform underway, focusing on housing supply.
"The Government will use the features of the new planning system, including the design guides, to support the delivery of more housing that is well designed and sustainable.
"Already the Government has appointed Urbis to assist in developing a draft 'missing middle' design guide for consultation with architects, planners and the community. This design led approach will then inform consideration of major plan amendments next year to enable the missing middle housing like duplexes, townhouses and row houses on RZ1 blocks.
"Building on the finalised district strategies, the next stage of reform also includes planning for more well-located housing in key precincts, transport corridors and at shopping centres which will require future amendments to the Plan."
Clarifications made to the finalised version of the plan include items relating to height requirements, planting areas, urban heat island effects, parking and traffic, retail uses, solar access to outdoor spaces, cross ventilation and energy efficiency of dwellings, site constraints and environmental risks.
Other specific changes from the interim Territory Plan to the final version include:
- Updating the application of the Housing Design Guide to exclude minor extensions and alterations to multi-unit housing.
- Updating the Territory Plan Map to provide separate maps for each district, rather than a single document containing all maps.
- Amendments to zoning that has undertaken Statutory consultation since the interim Territory Plan was introduced, including amendments to the East Lake area.
- Adding a new assessment requirement to restrict new gas connections for all new or existing developments, including redevelopments, in line with requirements in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Regulation 2011.
- Listing Molonglo as a town centre, rather than a group centre, in line with changes anticipated to the National Capital Plan.
Changes to the Territory Plan will build on and complement recommendations made to the government through the Standing Committee on Planning, Transport and City Services inquiry into the Territory Plan and associated documents, which the government responded to in July this year.
"Over the next five years, we will evaluate the performance of the planning system to make sure it is delivering better outcomes for the community," said Minister Steel.
The final Territory Plan will come into effect on 27 September 2024.
