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As Canberra continues to grow, it is critical for future planning to focus on urban infill to limit the city’s footprint.
The ‘missing middle’ refers to low scale development that provides housing diversity and supply to allow housing such as duplexes/triplexes, townhouses/row houses and low scale apartments.
It provides higher density living without the bulk of large apartment complexes, reducing sprawl and preserving open space and streetscape quality.
Urbis Associate Director and Urban Designer, Mel Jones has led these projects with the ACT Government and said traditional housing often doesn’t meet the diverse needs of the population.
“As Canberra continues to grow, it is critical for future planning to focus on urban infill to limit the city’s footprint.
“The missing middle housing can address this by offering affordable, moderately priced housing options that fill the gap between single-family homes and high-rise apartments.
“With a range of ambitious housing targets being set nation-wide, the ACT’s planning strategy aims to deliver 70% of new housing growth in existing areas,” Jones said.
With the ACT Government’s newly finalised Territory Plan approved and set to come into effect on 27 September 2024, Minister for Planning Chris Steel said, “The Government will use the features of the new planning system, including the design guides, to support the delivery of more housing that is well designed and sustainable.”
“Already the Government has appointed Urbis to assist in developing a draft ‘missing middle’ design guide for consultation with architects, planners and the community. This design led approach will then inform consideration of major plan amendments next year to enable the missing middle housing like duplexes, townhouses and row houses on RZ1 blocks,” Steel said.
This mix of housing to suit the different needs of the community will deliver better outcomes with the supply of row housing, lofts, low rise apartment buildings, dual occupancies and other smart configurations that limit urban sprawl and create a more compact bush capital.
