What is the Demonstration Housing Project?

The Demonstration Housing Project is testing and showcasing how we can best deliver a compact, sustainable, accessible and active city through innovative planning, design and delivery.

The Demonstration Housing Project responds to an ACT Legislative Assembly resolution passed in June 2017, which asked the ACT Government to engage with the community and industry stakeholders on how to deliver demonstration housing proposals that showcase best-practice in one or more of the following areas:

  • excellence in construction and design quality
  • carbon neutral buildings
  • medium density infill
  • innovative planning and engagement approaches
  • innovative housing products and typologies
  • close partnership with industry bodies and
  • options for public and affordable housing.

The Demonstration Housing Project is closely aligned with the Housing Choices project, concurrently being undertaken by the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate (EPSDD). Recommendations from the Housing Choices Collaboration Hub, a deliberative democracy process of 37 individuals, helped to develop the evaluation criteria for Demonstration Housing Project proposals.

The lessons learnt from the Demonstration Housing projects will inform the Housing Choices policy.

Why are we doing it?

Increased housing choice is an integral part of the ACT Government's priority for urban renewal that creates viable, safe and attractive communities. The ACT Government's Planning Strategy details the need for housing that addresses the needs of younger and older people, providing place transit orientated developments with affordable and social housing and providing infill housing to cater for families closer to the city. The Canberra community has told us that there is a 'missing middle' in our housing market and that we need new types of housing that are designed and delivered to ensure that they suit the needs of a range of people at different stages of their life. Following feedback from the Housing Choices Collaboration Hub; the missing middle products need to address affordability, existing suburb character, environment, different lifestyles and diversity requirements whilst maintaining a high quality of design.

The Demonstration Housing Project offers a hands-on opportunity to test the effectiveness of different housing types through real examples and future review through post-occupancy modelling.

In addition, the ACT Government has committed to:

  • 70% of new housing to be within Canberra's existing footprint
  • achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2020 and net zero emissions by 2045
  • a 15% social and affordable housing target
  • provide a diverse mix of housing types and choice
  • facilitate innovative design and delivery mechanisms
  • encourage well designed, environmentally sustainable and accessible housing.

The social, environment and economic changes that Canberra is experiencing is an opportunity for us to rethink how housing is designed and delivered to ensure that it suits the needs of a range of people at different stages of their life, incorporates best-practice sustainability measures, and delivers density in a way which respects our Garden City character.

The lessons learnt from the Demonstration Housing Project will inform future government policy and Territory Plan changes, which is hoped will encourage and support improved housing choice and housing quality in Canberra.

More information

Email the Demonstration Housing Project team at DemonstrationHousing@act.gov.au.