ACT housing reform
Sam Engele, Coordinator-General, Housing, ACT Government
What's driving the ACT's housing agenda?
The ACT’s housing strategy is focused on managing growth in a way that supports everyday life while maintaining what makes Canberra liveable. Central to this is enabling 30,000 new homes by 2030, supported by planning reform and development within the existing urban footprint.Growth is being directed to areas close to jobs, services and transport—including town centres, established suburbs and key corridors—to better use infrastructure and reduce outward expansion.A key priority is improving delivery. Planning delays, complexity and uncertainty add to housing costs. Reforms aim to streamline approvals, simplify processes and make development more predictable.
The ‘missing middle’: expanding choice in established suburbs
The ‘missing middle’ addresses the gap between detached houses and apartments. It includes low-rise housing such as townhouses, terraces, multi-occupancy developments and low-rise apartments.Reforms focus on enabling these housing types in more zones, simplifying subdivision rules and reducing reliance on complex approval processes. Additional measures include improving development feasibility and introducing an ACT Pattern Book of approved designs to support faster approvals.These changes are intended to support a wider range of households while strengthening local centres and maintaining neighbourhood character.
Innovation beyond greenfields and high-rise
The ACT uses a combination of approaches rather than relying solely on greenfield expansion or high-rise development.Transit-oriented development will focus housing around light rail and rapid bus corridors, with an emphasis on well-designed, functional spaces.In established suburbs, the focus is on gentle infill that integrates with existing streetscapes and retains a sense of low density. Zoning changes are paired with design guidance to maintain amenity, sustainability and human-scale development.
What will make implementation work
Implementation depends on certainty, coordination and community confidence. Clearer rules, simpler controls and streamlined approvals are essential to support delivery.For missing middle housing, well-designed and predictable change is key to community acceptance. Coordinated delivery across land use, transport and infrastructure, alongside ongoing engagement, will be critical.
What success looks like in 20 years
Success will be measured by how well Canberra functions as a city.In twenty years, this means more people living close to jobs, services and transport; a broader mix of housing; stronger local centres; and growth that maintains Canberra’s liveability and leafy character.
Final word
This reform agenda is about wellbeing as much as housing supply. Improving how the planning system operates supports better outcomes for community and industry. Making well-located housing easier to deliver will support shorter trips, stronger local centres and more time spent in neighbourhoods.