Have your say on the ACT’s ‘missing middle’ housing design guide

The territory government has proposed “missing middle” planning changes to boost housing in the nation’s capital.  

The ACT government announced the draft reforms to suburban zoning and new design requirements to encourage more low-rise homes, such as townhomes, in Canberra’s existing suburbs.  

The territory says the new changes will deliver an increased supply of “missing middle” housing types to help meet its target of 30,000 new homes by 2030.  

The changes include removal of minimum block sizes for additional dwellings in RZ1 areas, removing the 120sqm limit for a secondary dwelling, allowing block subdivisions and allowing townhomes, terraces and low-rise apartments to be built up to two storeys. 

“Right now Canberra is characterised by single dwelling detached homes in the suburbs and high-rise apartments in our town centres, without much housing stock in-between,” ACT minister for planning and sustainable development Chris Steel said. 

Consultation is now open for local community members to have their say on the “missing middle” housing design guide, which will be used by industry to guide the types of housing that could be built under the changes. 

According to the territory government, proposed missing middle housing developments in RZ1 and RZ2 zones are required to respond to the design guide. 

Architects and industry professionals have developed the draft design guide to ensure its outcomes are supportive of delivering more types of housing in all ACT suburbs.   

Property Council ACT and capital region executive director Ashlee Berry said the reforms reflected the council’s calls for more medium-density housing.   

“We agree with the planning minister that better design, including on larger, consolidated sites, will deliver better homes, better streetscapes, and better neighbourhoods for current and future residents,” Ms Berry said. 

“This is generational planning change that will bring our suburbs into the 21st century and start to unlock delivery of the housing we need, closer to services, shops and public transport.” 

Housing Industry Association ACT and southern NSW executive director Greg Weller said the plans will address the territory’s slow pace in developing housing such as dual-occupancies and townhomes.   

“Missing middle housing can deliver on Canberra family’s needs for larger dwellings than might be feasible or affordable in an apartment building, without the land requirements of a detached dwelling,” Mr Weller said.  

“Sensible and well-planned medium density will be essential to deliver on Canberra’s future housing needs if the city is to limit its geographic size. It has been a long held policy of the ACT to build 70% of new homes in the city’s existing footprint, and these reforms will go a long way to supporting that aim.” 

Consultation for the design guide closes on July 22, 2025 and long form submissions will be accepted until August 5.  

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