The ACT is seeking to clarify why residential developments subject to new planning rules require bigger yards and smaller homes and has invited comments from the community to share the many feedbacks needed to explain.
Opening consultation on the Technical Amendment to the Territory Plan 2022-07: Clarification of original intent regarding application of living infrastructure provisions in Variation 369, the Minister for Planning, Mick Gentleman said the living infrastructure provisions were set to come into force on 1 September.
“The ACT Government exempted developments in new estates through the Territory Plan Variation 369 amendment in May,” Mr Gentleman said.
“This has caused some confusion about the types of residential developments required to comply with living infrastructure rules,” he said.
“The amendment that we’re proposing to the wording of Territory Plan Variation 369 will clarify that developments in established residential areas will need more planting space and more trees.”
Mr Gentleman said the proposed amendment would have the living infrastructure rules applied to blocks approved under an estate development plan before 1 January 2020, or for which a lease was granted before that date.
He said blocks purchased in new estates on or after 1 January 2020 were exempt from having to meet the living infrastructure requirements until the new Territory Plan came into effect in 2023.
“The decision to temporarily exempt blocks in new estates was made out of concern for Canberrans who had purchased a house and land package in new suburbs and were already underway with planning and building,” he said.
“For people who have bought a house and land package, changing designs at a late stage of the planning and building process, or even after construction had started, would result in unfair extra costs and delays.”
Mr Gentleman invited Canberrans to have their say on the technical amendment through the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate’s website until 18 July.
“Once the new Territory Plan comes into effect in 2023, all new residential developments in the ACT will need to comply with living infrastructure requirements.”
Further information on the planned amendments, including how to have a say, can be accessed at this PS News link.
