Three-storey blocks of units are coming to existing residential areas in inner Canberra.
The ACT Planning Authority has issued guidelines for blocks of three-storey units that will be permitted in North Canberra after the gazettal of the Territory Plan next month.
It is not widely known that the plan will permit three-storey residential development in wide areas of Braddon, Dickson, Lyneham, O’Connor and Turner. About 1000 households are affected. Many will face the choice of selling their homes or living next to units instead of in their present single-residence environment.
It is part of the ACT Government’s 50-50 plan that aims at half of new residences to be greenfields and the other half to be in-fill and redevelopment.
The plan is a long-term one. The authority has issued the guidelines to protect the residential amenity of the nearby single residences. Comment on the guidelines can be made to the authority by October 4.
The authority said, “”Without positive design and siting controls there is a danger of prominent ill-considered three-level structures forming isolated vertical entities that relate badly to their neighbours.”
Redevelopment would require an amalgamation of a minimum of three existing blocks of a minimum of 0.3ha. Buildings would have minimum setbacks from boundaries, height restrictions, colour and roofing restrictions and rules to prevent slabs and create visual variety.
Rules would also demand proportions of open space, basement parking and energy efficiency.
The authority also issued guidelines which would enable sub-division of large blocks in inner south Canberra for two dwellings.
Guidelines were issued for the four-storey area between Wentworth and Canberra Avenues and Telopea Park.
Pointer: Changing the face of Burley Griffin’s Canberra.