Plans are in progress from the ACT Government to rezone areas around two light rail stops, which could make way for 1000 new homes.
The Government is planning to rezone “key sites” in Downer and Watson to allow for more medium-density housing, although not all areas will get a height lift.
The transit-oriented planning reforms focus on areas close to the Northbourne Avenue and the Federal Highway, north of Antill and Mouat streets.
Consultation for the Draft Major Plan Amendment Northern Gateway opened this week.
The areas were identified in 2023, and now plans are in progress to rezone areas in Watson next to the Federal Highway from Suburban to Urban Residential.
A section of Watson closest to Phillip Avenue and areas of Downer next to Northbourne Avenue/Federal Highway would be zoned as medium density.
Areas being rezoned to medium density would be limited to three storeys, except blocks in Downer closest to Northbourne Avenue and south of the Barton Highway, which would be limited to five storeys.
However, some areas being rezoned urban residential would have maximum heights reduced to two storeys.
The proposed draft amendment implements the NCA and ACT Government’s City and Gateway Urban Design Framework, which was initially placed on consultation in 2018.
Transit-oriented development was a “key part” of the Government’s planning reforms to enable 30,000 new homes by 2030, Minister for Planning and Sustainable Development Chris Steel said.
“We’ve already seen investment in light rail being a strong catalyst for new housing being built along the southern end of Northbourne Avenue,” Steel said.
“These zoning changes will enable up to an additional 1000 well-located homes to be built in the northern end of the corridor directly next to existing light rail stops at Swinden Street and Phillip Avenue.”
The ACT Government has been aggressive in its rezoning and housing activities, earmarking 209,571sq m of land in another northern suburb, Gungahlin, earlier this year, as well as working on plans for a 200-home subdivision in Watson.
