The Demonstration Housing Project is being run in two streams:
- With a site – proponents who have a housing concept and a site.
- Without a site – proponents who have a housing concept and do not have a site. The Territory is assisting proponents to identifying suitable Territory-owned land, which will be sold at market value to successful proponents.
The application process
- Stage 1: Expression of Interest
- Evaluation: Successful Stage 1 projects announced and invited to Stage 2
- Stage 2: Request for Proposal (with sites) and Request for Tender (without sites)
- Evaluation: Successful Stage 2 projects announced and invited to participate in the Demonstration Housing project
Stage 1 - Expression of Interest
An Expression of Interest (EOI) opened in April 2018 and closed May 2018.
The EOI assessed the market interest, capability and experience of suitably qualified and experienced applicants to provide proposals for Demonstration Housing projects which met some or all of the project objectives specified by the Legislative Assembly. Applicants included architects, designers, planners, developers, community and social housing providers, builders, community organisations and individuals.
The EOI received 27 proposals, of which 10 ‘with a site’ and 7 ‘without a site’ progressed to the next stage of the process.
See full details of the Evaluation criteria - Stage 1.
Stage 2 - Request for Proposal/Tender
With sites: The Stage 2 Request for Proposal (RFP) opened in September 2018 and closed January 2019. The RFP asked for further detail and refinement of the proponent’s concept and plans, including a landscape plan and solar plan.
Without sites: Anticipated to open in late 2019/early 2020.
See full details of the Evaluation criteria - Stage 2.
The process for successful projects
- Proponents to present their project to the National Capital Design Review Panel
- Proponents to undertake community engagement
- Development Application and site specific Territory Plan Variation lodged and assessed in accordance with statutory processes
- Delivery of Demonstration Housing projects
National Capital Design Review Panel and Community Engagement
All successful proponents must present at the National Capital Design Review Panel and undertake community engagement prior to lodging their development application.
Territory Plan Variation
As the Demonstration Housing project seeks to deliver innovative and best practice housing design and typologies not currently available in Canberra, most proponents will be seeking exemptions of one or more Territory Plan planning controls. This may include reduction in car parking; allowing more dwellings than currently permissible under the zone; and setback reductions. Proponents must justify the sustainable, social, design or other benefits that these exemptions will provide.
The government will lodge a site specific Territory Plan Variation (TPV) for each proponent. The TPV must go through the normal legislative process as set out in the Planning and Development Act 2009, including government agency circulation and community consultation, and its approval cannot be guaranteed.
More information
Email the Demonstration Housing Project team at DemonstrationHousing@act.gov.au.